Increase the Minimum Age for Firearm Purchases

This brief is part of “Election 2024: Policy Playbook,” a series by Rice University and the Baker Institute that offers critical context, analysis, and recommendations to inform policymaking in the United States and Texas.

The Big Picture

• Raising the purchase age of semiautomatic rifles to 21 years is an impactful way to reduce youth firearm-related injury and death.
• Such a provision had bipartisan support in the 88th Texas Legislative session as well as large public support.
• Limiting the age requirement to semiautomatic rifles would still enable youth shooting sports to continue.

Summarizing the Debate

In the 88th Texas Legislative session, state legislators sought a response to the deadliest school shooting in the state — Robb Elementary School in Uvalde. As in the Sandy Hook and Parkland school shootings, the Uvalde shooter was under the age of 21 and used a semiautomatic rifle. 

Texas has been the location of five of the 10 deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. Despite this, the typical response to mass shootings in Texas has been to loosen restrictions on firearm ownership. This may be driven by the belief that expanding access to guns enhances public safety by enabling more individuals to stop violent incidents.

After the Uvalde shooting, HB 2744 — which sought to raise the purchasing age of semiautomatic rifles to 21 years — was unique, in that it strengthened firearm laws and was voted out of committee with bipartisan support. However, there was not enough time left in the legislative session to allow a vote on the House floor. 

Nevertheless, the legislation gained wide support across the state. As evidenced by a University of Texas report indicating that 64% of Republicans and 91% of Democrats support or strongly support raising the legal age to purchase any firearm to 21 years. This suggests public backing for a potential bipartisan approach to this key firearm issue in the upcoming legislative session.

Expert Analysis

Protecting Children is Vital

Texas has a long history of prioritizing responsible firearm ownership. It is one of 26 states with child access prevention laws, making it a class 3C misdemeanor if a child under the age of 17 accesses a firearm that is readily dischargeable. Children are prone to unintentional injury, and have demonstrated that they need supervision around firearms, just as they do around swimming pools. What we know is that when children have limited access to firearms, it results in decreased injury. Child access prevention laws can also reduce unintentional injury and suicide by 54%, and one study found decreased rates of violent crime in youth.

Long Guns for Hunting and Recreation

Currently, young people between the ages of 18 and 21 can purchase long guns from licensed dealers, but handguns are restricted to those aged 21 and over. This is a result of federal legislation aimed at reducing crime, while also seeking to balance the concerns raised by others about the need to preserve the American tradition of hunting and recreational shooting sports for youths. 

Shotguns, bolt or lever action rifles, and semiautomatic rifles are all considered long guns. Yet, presently, legislation does not distinguish between them, which presents an opportunity for improvement. Over 3.5 million youth compete in shooting sports, with around 300 colleges offering teams for riflery, shotgun, and pistol. These sports involve strict supervision by coaches and rigorous safety checks, similar to military training, where service members are closely supervised while handling firearms. Consequently, limiting sales of semiautomatic rifles would not significantly impact the hunting, recreation, or military youth population.

Mass Shootings by Young People

Since 2018, almost two-thirds of the deadliest mass shootings have been committed by individuals 21 or younger. Shooters in the Sandy Hook, Parkland, and Uvalde school shootings were all under the age of 21, and all used semiautomatic rifles. Both the Parkland and Uvalde shooters purchased their firearms legally just prior to the event. The semiautomatic rifle is the most frequently used firearm in the deadliest mass shootings, both in Texas and nationwide. From 2015 to 2022, in mass shootings where semiautomatic rifles were used, nearly six times as many people were shot, more than twice as many people were killed, and 23 times as many people were wounded. This speaks to the deadly nature of this type of firearm. To provide protection for the broader population, semiautomatic rifles should have special age requirements. 

Policy Actions

Increasing the purchasing age to 21 years for semiautomatic rifles should be reconsidered by the upcoming legislative session for the following reasons: 

• It would be a direct response to the prevalence of mass shootings in Texas and an action for which the public has already indicated its support.
• It would also require age restrictions on semiautomatic rifles while still preserving youth shooting sports in Texas, allowing young people involved in these activities to own rifles and shotguns starting at age 18.

The Bottom Line

Raising the purchase age of semiautomatic rifles to 21 years is an impactful measure to reduce injuries and death while preserving firearm rights. Additionally, limiting the age requirement for semiautomatic rifles would not hinder youth participation in shooting sports but allow these activities to continue while prioritizing safety. If the greatest threat to gun rights is gun violence, raising the purchasing age for semiautomatic rifles would save lives while maintaining firearm ownership for the majority of the population.

This material may be quoted or reproduced without prior permission, provided appropriate credit is given to the author and Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. The views expressed herein are those of the individual author(s), and do not necessarily represent the views of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.