PA Bill Number: HB829
Title: In preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;
Description: An Act amending the act of April 12, 1951 (P.L.90, No.21), known as the Liquor Code, in preliminary provisions, further providing for definitions;
Last Action: Signed in House
Last Action Date: Jul 3, 2024
California bill to raise firearm purchase age to 21 just another infantilizing overreach :: 06/05/2018
A California bill to deprive 18 to 20 year olds the ability to defend themselves cleared the state Senate on May 29.
SB1100 from Sen. Anthony Portantino, D-La Cañada Flintridge, calls for raising the age to purchase shotguns and rifles to 21 years old. That age limit is current in place for handguns. SB1100 also limits the number of any type of firearms Californians can purchase in a 30-day period to one.
The bill was approved by the state Senate with 24 votes in favor, 10 opposed.
As one might expect, Portantino cloaked much of his argument for the bill in the sentiments to “do something” after recent school shootings. “This bill sends a clear message to those in Washington who continue to ignore the cries for change to our gun laws,” said Portantino following its passage.
It is certainly true that policymakers need to look at ways of reducing gun violence and preventing future tragedies – obviously – but whether raising the age to purchase shotguns and rifles to 21 will make any meaningful difference in curtailing mass shootings involving students in particular isn’t all that apparent.
As the Wall Street Journal recently
, school shooters over the last three decades “mostly use guns owned by a family member, not purchased on their own.” And as the Rockefeller Institute of Government recently
, the average age of mass shooters in the past 50 years is 33.4 years old.
But what we do know is that Portantino’s bill will have the practical effect of depriving adults from 18 to 20 years of age the ability to purchase a firearm to defend themselves.
In a nation with something known as the Second Amendment, the idea that adults can be deprived of their right to defend themselves with legally purchased firearms is simply untenable. Either constitutional rights mean something or they don’t. Either American adults with constitutional rights are American adults with constitutional rights or they aren’t.
Unfortunately, there are too many politicians like Portantino who prefer eroding the liberties of law-abiding Americans for the sake of appearing to do something.
Sal Rodriguez is an editorial writer and columnist for the Southern California News Group. He may be reached at salrodriguez@scng.com
