Posted on Jun 9, 2022
Raising the drinking age helped reduce crashes. Could age limits curb gun violence?
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https://www.npr.org/2022/06/09/ [login to see] /age-limit-to-purchase-semiautomatic-rifle-21
Uvalde, Texas. Buffalo, N.Y. Parkland, Fla. Three mass shootings in three states — 48 people killed in total. In each attack, the shooter legally purchased a gun before he turned 21.
As was the case with Parkland in 2018, last month's violence in Texas and New York has renewed demands for lawmakers to raise the minimum age to purchase certain guns to 21. Federal law already restricts the ability of anyone younger than 21 to legally buy a handgun, but to purchase a long gun — like the semi-automatic AR-15-style rifles used in Buffalo, Uvalde and Parkland — you only need to be 18.
Some states have moved to eliminate that gap. On Monday, New York became the seventh state in the nation to prohibit the sale of semi-automatic rifles to anyone under the age of 21, joining Florida (which changed its laws after Parkland), California, Hawaii, Illinois, Vermont and Washington. In most of the rest of the country, loopholes in state laws allow 18-year-olds to buy or own a handgun. In roughly half the states, there is no age limit on who can possess a long gun.
Uvalde, Texas. Buffalo, N.Y. Parkland, Fla. Three mass shootings in three states — 48 people killed in total. In each attack, the shooter legally purchased a gun before he turned 21.
As was the case with Parkland in 2018, last month's violence in Texas and New York has renewed demands for lawmakers to raise the minimum age to purchase certain guns to 21. Federal law already restricts the ability of anyone younger than 21 to legally buy a handgun, but to purchase a long gun — like the semi-automatic AR-15-style rifles used in Buffalo, Uvalde and Parkland — you only need to be 18.
Some states have moved to eliminate that gap. On Monday, New York became the seventh state in the nation to prohibit the sale of semi-automatic rifles to anyone under the age of 21, joining Florida (which changed its laws after Parkland), California, Hawaii, Illinois, Vermont and Washington. In most of the rest of the country, loopholes in state laws allow 18-year-olds to buy or own a handgun. In roughly half the states, there is no age limit on who can possess a long gun.
Raising the drinking age helped reduce crashes. Could age limits curb gun violence?
Posted from npr.orgPosted in these groups: 
Firearms and Guns
Law
Firearms and Guns Law
Posted 2 y ago
Responses: 5
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
..."“If you ask people if you should ban assault weapons or large capacity magazines, you generally see lower support,” said Crifasi. “It’s one of the few policies where we don’t see majority support among gun owners. But you do see really substantial support among lifting the minimum age to buy those kinds of firearms.”
Efforts to raise the purchase age, however, face headwinds on multiple fronts. On Wednesday, the Democratic-controlled House passed some of the most sweeping gun control legislation in years, including a measure that would set a minimum age of 21 for semi-automatic rifle purchases. But the bill is all but certain to fail in the Senate, where Democrats lack the votes to overcome a Republican filibuster. Senate negotiators have been racing to finalize agreement on a separate package of gun control proposals, but those talks have centered on measures to address school safety, mental health and so-called red flag laws to remove guns from potentially dangerous owners.
That would push action to the states, where legal challenges could present yet another hurdle. Last month, a U.S. appeals court in California by a 2-1 vote ruled that the state’s ban on the sale of semi-automatic weapons to adults under 21 is unconstitutional.
In reaching its decision, the court sided with a coalition of gun rights advocates who argued that age-based gun bans were discriminatory.
“America would not exist without the heroism of the young adults who fought and died in our revolutionary army,” Judge Ryan Nelson wrote. “Today we reaffirm that our Constitution still protects the right that enabled their sacrifice: the right of young adults to keep and bear arms.”
..."“If you ask people if you should ban assault weapons or large capacity magazines, you generally see lower support,” said Crifasi. “It’s one of the few policies where we don’t see majority support among gun owners. But you do see really substantial support among lifting the minimum age to buy those kinds of firearms.”
Efforts to raise the purchase age, however, face headwinds on multiple fronts. On Wednesday, the Democratic-controlled House passed some of the most sweeping gun control legislation in years, including a measure that would set a minimum age of 21 for semi-automatic rifle purchases. But the bill is all but certain to fail in the Senate, where Democrats lack the votes to overcome a Republican filibuster. Senate negotiators have been racing to finalize agreement on a separate package of gun control proposals, but those talks have centered on measures to address school safety, mental health and so-called red flag laws to remove guns from potentially dangerous owners.
That would push action to the states, where legal challenges could present yet another hurdle. Last month, a U.S. appeals court in California by a 2-1 vote ruled that the state’s ban on the sale of semi-automatic weapons to adults under 21 is unconstitutional.
In reaching its decision, the court sided with a coalition of gun rights advocates who argued that age-based gun bans were discriminatory.
“America would not exist without the heroism of the young adults who fought and died in our revolutionary army,” Judge Ryan Nelson wrote. “Today we reaffirm that our Constitution still protects the right that enabled their sacrifice: the right of young adults to keep and bear arms.”
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel good morning, thank you for the solid read/share of the most informational good buddy.
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MSG Roy Cheever
I’m so glad that you can put a positive spin on NPR reporting.
No matter what is said or done. ALL will be to Gods Glory.
Thanks for putting my heart in the right place SFC Davis
No matter what is said or done. ALL will be to Gods Glory.
Thanks for putting my heart in the right place SFC Davis
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I would guess that it would. It wont eliminate murders, but it sure can reduce murders.
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