Republicans Introduce Legislation Allowing 18-20-Year-Olds to Purchase Handguns

Republicans Introduce Legislation Allowing 18-20-Year-Olds to Purchase Handguns

by JORDAN MICHAELS on MAY 4, 2021



Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert is among those sponsoring the legislation. (Photo: Lauren Boebert Facebook)

Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate introduced legislation last week that would allow all American adults to purchase a handgun from a federally licensed dealer. Current law prohibits handgun purchases for anyone under the age of 21.

The legislation, dubbed The Second Amendment Mandates Equality (SAME) Act of 2021, was introduced in the Senate by Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis and in the House by Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie.

Proponents argue that age requirements for firearm purchases are arbitrary and violate the Second Amendment rights of adult Americans. They also point out that adults over 18 are trusted to vote, fight in the military, and form business contracts, and they should be trusted to purchase handguns as well.

“The Second Amendment is a constitutional right, and does not treat 18-year-olds as second-class adults,” Senator Lummis said. “In keeping with the Supreme Court’s Heller decision, the SAME Act would overturn our current restrictive anti-handgun statute and ensure equal treatment under law for adults under 21. Ultimately, if we trust 18-year-olds enough to defend our country and to choose our elected officials, we should trust them enough to purchase a handgun.”


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