Massie SAFER bill would lower handgun purchase age to 18

U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Kentucky) on Feb. 27 reintroduced the Second Amendment for Every Registrable (SAFER) Voter Act, which would lower the age from 21 to 18 to purchase a handgun from a federal firearms licensee (FFL).

Massie announced the bill, H.R.1643, on Facebook, saying:

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.

Why should a 20-yr-old mom be denied the right to defend herself?

He also put out a press release, saying,

18, 19, and 20-year-olds are considered adults and can vote on important public policy issues. They can also form business contracts, get married, and serve in the military. As adults, these Americans should not be deprived of basic constitutional rights.

Massie introduced similar bills in both the 117th and 118th Congress sessions, as H.R.2890 and H.R.6782, respectively.

Here in Ohio: See where BFA stands on gun-related bills introduced in the 136th Ohio General Assembly

According to his press release, the bill’s original co-sponsors are Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Colorado), Andrew Clyde, Mike Collins, and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia), Harriet Hageman (R-Wyoming), Doug LaMalfa (R-California), Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania), Chip Roy and Randy Weber (R-Texas), and Victoria Spartz (R-Indiana).

Massie is the co-chairman of the Second Amendment Caucus in the 119th Congress, along with Boebert.

Text as introduced

To reduce, from 21 years of age to 18 years of age, the minimum age at which a person may obtain a handgun from a Federal firearms licensee.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. Short title.

This Act may be cited as the “Second Amendment For Every Registrable Voter Act” or the “SAFER Voter Act”.

SEC. 2. Minimum age for obtaining a handgun from a Federal firearms licensee.

(a) In general.—Section 922(b)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by striking “, and, if the firearm, or ammunition is other than a shotgun or rifle, or ammunition for a shotgun or rifle, to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe is less than twenty-one years of age”.

(b) Conforming amendment.—Section 922(c)(1) of such title is amended by striking “, in the case of any firearm other than a shotgun or a rifle, I am twenty-one years or more of age, or that, in the case of a shotgun or a rifle,”.