Senators Propose Bill To Raise Buying Age For Assault Weapons

Senators Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy have proposed a bill seeking to raise the minimum age to buy an assault weapon.

The current minimum age to buy assault weapons is 18-years-old, and the senators want it increased to 21-years-old.

The bill was introduced on Friday, which was the seventh anniversary of the school shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida.

“Too many innocent lives lost, too many individuals facing relentless grief—we must take action to stop the epidemic of gun violence plaguing our nation. By raising the minimum age requirement for purchasing assault weapons, the Age 21 Act keeps guns out of the hands of young people, combatting gun violence hurting our communities. This legislation takes meaningful action to prevent senseless, unnecessary tragedies,” said Blumenthal.

“From Uvalde to Parkland, it’s just a fact the profile of these shooters are often teenagers who were able to legally get their hands on a deadly weapon like an AR-15. A majority of Americans support raising the age to purchase assault weapons or handguns to 21. Congress should do it,” said Murphy.

The senators say 46 thousand people lost their lives to gun violence in the U.S. in 2023, the third largest number in U.S. history.

(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)