Texas House panel passes bill to raise age to buy certain assault-style rifles
The bill was filed by a lawmaker representing Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 school children and two adults last year
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}State lawmakers in Texas advanced a bill Monday to raise the age to buy certain semi-automatic rifles, a move that came days after a gunman killed eight people and injured several others at an outdoor shopping mall.
The Community Safety, Select Committee in the state House passed House Bill 2744 with an 8-5 vote.
Two Republicans, Rep. Sam Harless from Spring and Rep. Justin Holland from Rockwall, joined the committee's Democrats voting for the bill, Fox Dallas reported.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}An AR-15 rifle. State lawmakers in Texas have advanced a bill to raise the age to buy certain semi-automatic rifles. (West Melbourne Police Department)
The bill will move to the House for a full vote. The legislation would raise the age from 18 to 21 to own "a semiautomatic rifle that is capable of accepting a detachable magazine and that has a caliber greater than .22."
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Individuals such as peace officers, military service members or those discharged honorably from the armed forces could be exempt.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The bill was introduced by Democratic Rep. Tracy King, who represents Uvalde, where a gunman killed 19 elementary school children and two adults last year.
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Colt M4 Carbine and AR-15 style rifles are displayed during the National Rifle Association (NRA) Annual Meeting at the George R. Brown Convention Center, in Houston, Texas on May 28, 2022. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"Our voices are making a difference. The push to bring this bill to the House floor continues," tweeted State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who also represents Uvalde.
Over the weekend, a gunman opened fire at the Allen Premium Outlets outside Dallas, killing eight people. The shooter, identified as Mauricio Garcia, 33, was killed by police officers.