SAFER Voter Act
Handgun Purchase Age: Lowering from 21 to 18
The SAFER Voter Act was recently introduced and is currently sitting in the House Committee on the Judiciary for review. It is in the early stages of the legislative process and is not yet scheduled for a vote. The bill is considered active as it waits for the committee to decide on its next steps.
Legislative Progress
This bill faces strong opposition from Democrats who generally want to raise age limits for guns. It is very unlikely to get the 60 votes needed to pass the Senate.
Key Points
- This bill would change federal law to let people as young as 18 buy handguns from licensed gun stores. Right now, federal law says you must be at least 21 years old to buy a handgun from a professional dealer.
- The change would specifically help young adults between the ages of 18 and 20. Under current rules, these individuals can already buy rifles and shotguns, but they are blocked from buying handguns at most gun shops.
- Supporters of the bill argue that if someone is old enough to vote and serve in the military, they should have the full right to own a handgun for self-defense. They believe the current age limit unfairly restricts the rights of legal adults.
- If passed, this would remove the age gap between buying long guns and handguns. It would apply to all businesses that hold federal permits to sell guns, known as federal firearms licensees.
Impact Analysis
Govbase has not yet run an impact analysis on this legislation.
Milestones
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
News
No related news coverage found for this legislation yet.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
SAFER Voter Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Cosponsors
(14)Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.