Raise the age limit to buy weapons; will it matter?
This week, Texas state lawmakers voted to advance a bill that would raise the legal age to purchase some semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21.
HOUSTON – In a surprise move on Monday, Texas lawmakers voted to advance House Bill 2744 that would raise the legal age to buy, lease or borrow some semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21. The weapons included are semi-automatic rifles larger than .22.
The bill still has a long way to go before becoming law. It should pass the House and the full Senate.
But if HB 2744 passes, would it make much difference?
We’ve looked at six of the most recent deadly mass shootings in Texas, which make up only a small sample of the total.
- 2016: Dallas, Texas: Five police officers were killed by a 25-year-old gunman. He used an AK-47 style assault rifle. House Bill 2744 would not have stopped this shooting.
- 2017: Sutherland Springs, Texas: Twenty-six people were killed by a 26-year-old gunman who used an AR-556 rifle and two handguns. House Bill 2744 would not have stopped this shooting.
- 2018: Santa Fe, Texas: Ten people were killed by a suspected gunman who was 17 at the time. Investigators said he used a shotgun and a .38 revolver. Both weapons were purchased by his father. House Bill 2744 would not have stopped this shooting.
- 2019: El Paso, Texas: Twenty-three people were killed in a Walmart by a 21-year-old gunman using an AK-47. But he was 20 when he bought the gun. House Bill 2744 could have stopped this shooting.
- 2022: Uvalde, Texas: Twenty-one people were killed at Robb Elementary by an 18-year-old gunman who used an AR-15-style rifle he bought. House Bill 2744 could have stopped this shooting.
- 2023: Allen, Texas: Eight people were killed in a shopping mall by a 33-year-old gunman who used an AR-style rifle and handgun. House Bill 2744 would not have stopped this shooting.
There were 93 total fatalities in these six incidents alone, of these, HB 2744 could have made a difference in saving 44, many children. This helps explain why many of Uvalde’s victim’s families lobbied for this law to be passed.
Mass killings in Texas since 2007
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