A collection of lawmakers, both Republicans and Democrats, introduced legislation Thursday that would restrict those younger than 21 from buying firearms from federally licensed gun dealers, according to a press release from Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL). The bill exempts certain groups of young adults from the restriction, including “law enforcement officers, correctional officers, or members of the military.”
While the bill would stop some 18, 19 and 20-year-olds from buying guns from a federally licensed dealer, the press release says that the law would not prevent those young adults from possessing a gun.
Lawmakers who introduced the legislation included House members from both political parties: Ted Deutch (D-FL), Thomas J. Rooney (R-FL), Pete King (R-NY), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
“Common-sense gun laws will save lives and uphold the 2nd Amendment,” Congressman Deutch tweeted. “Our 21 to Buy Act follows the new standard set in FL & is the least we can do to keep our communities safe.”
Males within the 18-20-year-old age range are among the men who could potentially be drafted if there were ever a draft.
Some companies (like DICK’s Sporting Goods and Walmart) have decided to enact their own firearm policies that prohibit selling guns and ammunition to people younger than 21.
A business owner in Florida who already had a self-imposed policy against selling guns to people under the age of 21 said that when the man who later became the Parkland shooter came into his pawn shop, he had been unwilling to sell him a weapon because of the young man’s age.