House Democrats Introducing Bill to Increase Firearm Minimum Purchase Age

House Democrats are introducing a bill to increase the minimum purchase age for commonly-owned semiautomatic rifles Wednesday.

The bill is being sponsored by Rep. Anthony Brown (D-MD).

Politico reports this is Brown’s second time to push such legislation. He pushed it unsuccessfully following the February 14, 2018, Parkland high school shooting. 

Brown made clear he would rather have an all-out ban on commonly-owned semiautomatic firearms, but is pushing a purchase ban against 18- to 20-year-olds because he thinks it will actually get a floor vote.

The push to raise minimum purchase age comes as Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA) is pushing universal background checks. The universal background check bill will require a gun registry in order to be enforceable.