In the latest battle over gun rights in Washington, lawmakers in both the House and Senate have introduced opposing bills that would either lower or raise the age to legally purchase firearms.

Rep. Thomas Massie Introduces Bill to Lower Handgun Purchase Age to 18

Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) has reintroduced the Second Amendment For Every Registrable Voter Act (SAFER Voter Act), which seeks to lower the minimum age to purchase a handgun from 21 to 18. The bill, H.R. 6782, would repeal federal restrictions that prevent law-abiding 18- to 20-year-olds from buying handguns through Federal Firearms Licensees (FFLs).

Massie argues that if 18-year-olds are legally allowed to vote, sign contracts, serve in the military, and get married, they should also have the right to own a handgun for self-defense. “Why should a 20-year-old single mom be denied the right to defend herself and her children?” Massie asked when reintroducing the bill.

The bill has strong support from Gun Owners of America (GOA) and the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR), both of which have criticized the current federal law for treating the Second Amendment as a second-class right for young adults.

Sen. Alex Padilla Pushes Bill to Raise the Age for Semi-Auto Rifle Purchases

Meanwhile, on the opposite end of the spectrum, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) has introduced the Age 21 Act (S. 4987), which would raise the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic rifles and high-capacity magazines from 18 to 21.

Padilla and his co-sponsors, including Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), argue that if federal law already bans individuals under 21 from buying handguns, they should also be prohibited from purchasing what they call “military-grade” weapons. They claim that restricting access to semi-automatic rifles for younger individuals will reduce gun violence and mass shootings.

SAFER Voter Act Aligns with Recent Court Rulings

The SAFER Voter Act (H.R. 6782) is backed by recent federal court decisions that have struck down age-based gun restrictions as unconstitutional. In January 2025, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the federal ban on handgun purchases for 18- to 20-year-olds violates the Second Amendment, affirming that young adults have the same right to self-defense as any other law-abiding citizen. Additionally, a 2022 ruling in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals struck down a ban on 18- to 20-year-olds carrying handguns, further solidifying legal precedent against these unconstitutional restrictions.

Despite a Republican-controlled House, Massie’s bill still faces an uphill battle. Some moderate Republicans may hesitate to support the legislation due to political pressure from gun control advocates. The reality is that unless gun owners across America apply relentless pressure on their elected officials, the bill could stall. As Ronald Reagan once said, “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”

Gun rights advocates must mobilize, call their representatives, and demand action to ensure the SAFER Voter Act moves forward. Meanwhile, Padilla’s Age 21 Act (S. 4987) will likely face strong legal challenges, given recent court rulings, but still serves as a stark reminder that the fight to protect Second Amendment rights is far from over.