Washington, D.C. (WBEN) - A bill in the nation's capital has been introduced that will see the minimum age to buy an assault weapon and high capacity ammunition magazines in the United States increase from 18 to 21.
U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand announced the piece of legislation, requiring citizens to be the same age to purchase an assault weapon as it is to purchase handguns from federally licensed dealers.
Individuals under the age of 21 have used assault weapons in some of the most devastating shootings in U.S. history, including the 2022 racially motivated mass shooting at the Tops Friendly Market on Jefferson Avenue in Buffalo that killed 10 people and wounded three others.
"Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in America today. Year-after-year, deadly assault weapons inflict devastating and avoidable harm on our families, schools, and communities, causing children, parents, and teachers to live with the fear that the next school shooting may happen in their community," said Sen. Gillibrand on Wednesday. "The 'Age 21 Act' offers a critical safeguard to prevent such tragedies, decreasing the threat of gun violence against our kids. I am proud to support this legislation, and I will fight hard for its passage this Congress."
In 2023 alone, gun violence claimed over 46,000 lives in the United States - the third-largest number of gun-related deaths in American history.
Originally engineered for military combat to maximize damage, assault weapons have been frequently used in mass shootings because of their ability to inflict catastrophic harm in mere seconds. More than 85% of deaths in public mass shootings involving four or more fatalities were caused by assault rifles.
Furthermore, shootings involving assault weapons or large-capacity magazines result in more than two-and-a-half times as many people being shot compared to incidents involving other firearms.
The Age 21 Act’s restrictions on the sale of assault weapons, handguns, large-capacity ammunition feeding devices, and related ammunition to individuals under the age of 21 would apply to both federally licensed and private sellers.
Additionally, the legislation would bar most individuals under 21 from possessing these items, with limited exceptions for specific circumstances such as service in law enforcement or the armed forces.
The Age 21 Act was originally introduced by U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and has been cosponsored by 17 other senators.