US EditionBill to Allow 18-Year-Olds to Buy Guns Advances in the Florida House Again After Multiple Failed Attempts
The bill aims to reverse the 2018 increase in the rifle purchase age, with the House subcommittee approving it 11-5 while Senate support remains uncertain.
- On Tuesday, the Republican-controlled House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved HB 133, advancing the bill to lower Florida's long-gun purchase age from 21 to 18 toward the House Judiciary Committee.
- After the Parkland shooting in 2018, Florida raised the purchase age to 21 as part of a sweeping school-safety law, and in recent years the Florida House passed bills to lower it but stalled in the Senate.
- Supporters point to what they call a legal inconsistency, noting that 18‑ to 20‑year‑olds can own gifted long guns but cannot purchase them, and House Majority Leader Tyler Sirois said there is `still time for that conversation` with the Senate.
- Procedural barriers in the Senate, including the Rules Committee, could block the measure as no Senate bill has been filed for the 2026 legislative session starting Jan. 13, and Chair Kathleen Passidomo opposes repeal.
- With appeals pending, legal uncertainty and survivor responses raise the issue's broader stakes as the NRA seeks U.S. Supreme Court review after losses and Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier declined to defend the law, while Rep. Robin Bartleman said the bill `reopens wounds` for Parkland survivors.
12 Articles
12 Articles
House committee (again) advances proposal to lower the age to purchase a firearm in Florida
A Florida House member wants to repeal the state's red-flag law and legalize the open carrying of firearms. (Photo by Sergio Flores/Bloomberg, Getty Images)A proposal that would lower the minimum age requirement to purchase a long gun in Florida from 21 to 18 won approval in its first committee stop in the Florida House on Tuesday. The measure (HB 133), sponsored by Rep. Tyler Sirois, R-Merritt Island, is likely to advance through the House in t…
Bill to allow 18-year-olds to buy guns advances in the Florida House again after multiple failed attempts
Florida lawmakers are once again considering a bill to lower the gun-buying age from 21 to 18. The proposal is moving through the state House and raising questions about gun rights and safety.
Florida House panel revives push to lower gun-buying age from 21 to 18
Florida House Republicans are once again advancing a plan to roll back one of the states signature post-Parkland gun reforms, setting up a familiar clash over whether 18- to 20-year-olds should be allowed to buy rifles and other long guns.On Tuesday, the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee approved HB 133 on an 115 party-line vote, with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed. The bill would lower the minimum age to purchase a long gun from 2…
Sun-Sentinel
Orlando SentinelFlorida House aims again to change law restricting gun-buying age
TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House is again moving to pass a controversial bill that would lower the minimum age to purchase rifles and other long guns from 21 to 18, though the Senate has not given any public sign that it is on board. The Republican-controlled House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Tuesday voted 11-5 along party lines to approve the bill (HB 133), which now only needs to clear the House Judiciary Committee before it could go to th…
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