WPBN: On Tuesday, a Republican state senator submitted a proposal to remove a rule that prohibits those under the age of 21 from purchasing rifles and other long firearms. This proposal comes in the midst of a protracted judicial struggle regarding the subject.
At the beginning of the 2025 legislative session, which will begin on March 4, Senator Randy Fine, a Republican from Brevard County who is standing in a special election for a congressional seat, submitted the proposal (SB 94) for consideration.
The bill that is being submitted is comparable to one that was approved by the House of Representatives during the 2024 legislative session but was not approved by the Senate. The current discussions in the US about gun control include this legislative attempt.
Lawmakers and then-Governor Rick Scott implemented major changes to firearm purchasing regulations in reaction to the devastating mass shooting that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018.
Raising the legal age of purchase for rifles and other long-guns from 18 to 21 was one of these modifications.
This change in policy was intended to allay worries about easy access to firearms and lessen the possibility of future tragedies of this kind.
The horrific Parkland attack, which killed seventeen people, had a significant effect on public sentiment and sparked calls for more stringent gun control laws. It continues to be a crucial point in the national dialogue about safety laws and gun violence.
It is already illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase a weapon under current federal law. However, there were legal challenges to the decision to place comparable age limitations on rifles and other long guns.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) claimed in a 2018 lawsuit that the age restriction infringed on people’s Second Amendment rights.
Judge Mark Walker, the Chief United States District Judge, maintained the law in spite of these objections, confirming that the age restriction was lawful.
This ruling added to the larger discussion on striking a balance between constitutional rights and public safety concerns by upholding the legal precedent for age-based gun control laws.
Nationwide policymaking and legal interpretations are still influenced by the controversy surrounding such legislation.
The law was likewise upheld by a panel of three judges from the 11th United States Circuit Court of Appeals; however, the National Rifle Association requested that the issue be heard by the full appeals court. The appeals court in Atlanta has not yet concluded its consideration of the matter.
Having served in the House of Representatives for eight years prior to his election to the Senate, Fine became eligible to compete in a special election this week to take the seat of U.S. Representative Mike Waltz, a Republican from Florida, in Congressional District 6.
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