U.S. Representative Thomas Massie from Kentucky has reintroduced a bill aimed at lowering the minimum age for purchasing a handgun from 21 to 18. The legislation, known as the Second Amendment for Every Registrable (SAFER) Voter Act, was announced on February 27.
Massie took to Facebook to share details about the bill, H.R.1643, stating: “I just reintroduced the Second Amendment for Every Registrable Voter Act, HR 1643. The SAFER Voter Act would repeal the federal law that prevents voting age adults, 18 to 20, from purchasing a handgun from a FFL.” He questioned why young adults should be denied their right to self-defense.
In an accompanying press release, Massie argued that individuals aged 18 to 20 are considered adults with various responsibilities and rights such as voting and military service. “As adults, these Americans should not be deprived of basic constitutional rights,” he stated.
The bill’s original co-sponsors include Representatives Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Andrew Clyde and Mike Collins of Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene also of Georgia, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming, Doug LaMalfa of California, Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Chip Roy and Randy Weber of Texas, and Victoria Spartz of Indiana. Massie serves as co-chairman of the Second Amendment Caucus in the current Congress alongside Boebert.
Massie’s previous attempts to pass similar legislation occurred during both the 117th and 118th Congress sessions under different bill numbers.
The text introduced in this session aims to amend Section 922(b)(1) and Section 922(c)(1) of Title 18 in the United States Code by removing restrictions related to handgun purchases by those under twenty-one years old.
