Florida Republicans Push for Change in Gun Purchase Age Restrictions

Florida Republicans are pushing to lower the state’s minimum age for firearm purchases from 21 back to 18, challenging a law enacted after the tragic Parkland school shooting, while facing opposition from gun safety advocates and Parkland victims’ families.

Key Takeaways

Republicans in Florida are advancing legislation to lower the gun purchase age from 21 to 18, with the bill passing its first committee stage by a 13-5 vote along party lines.
The current law, raising the minimum age to 21, was enacted in 2018 following lobbying by Parkland shooting survivors and victims’ families after 17 people were killed by a 19-year-old gunman.
Bill sponsor Rep. Michelle Salzman argues the change would restore “full Second Amendment rights” to all adult citizens in Florida, while opponents view it as disrespectful to Parkland families.
The National Rifle Association has maintained an ongoing legal challenge against the current law in federal court since its enactment.
Even if the state age is lowered, allowing 18-21-year-olds to buy long guns, federal law would still restrict handgun purchases to those 21 and older, though a recent U.S. appeals court found this federal restriction unconstitutional.

Florida Lawmakers Lead Push to Restore Gun Rights to 18-Year-Olds

Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature is moving forward with a controversial proposal to lower the minimum age for purchasing firearms from 21 to 18. The initiative, spearheaded by state Representative Michelle Salzman, seeks to overturn restrictions put in place after the 2018 Parkland school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that left 17 people dead. The bill recently passed its first committee stage in the Florida House with a 13-5 vote that fell strictly along party lines, demonstrating the partisan divide on gun policy in the state.

Supporters of the measure argue that 18-year-olds, who can vote and serve in the military, should have full access to their constitutional rights. The bill aims to make sure “all adult citizens in Florida are afforded their full Second Amendment rights,” said Representative Salzman, framing the issue as one of constitutional adherence rather than a rollback of safety measures. Governor Ron DeSantis has signaled support for the change, particularly highlighting the inconsistency that military service members face: “They come home and they can’t even buy a rifle to go hunt.”

Florida lawmakers are pushing to lower the state's gun-buying age from 21 to 18, reigniting a debate over gun rights and public safety years after the law was enacted in response to the Parkland school shooting.

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Opposition from Parkland Families and Gun Safety Advocates

The proposal has met substantial resistance from some critics, particularly from families affected by the Parkland shooting and gun safety organizations. Democratic Representative Robin Bartleman has vocally opposed the measure, viewing it as disrespectful to the Parkland families who advocated for the age increase in 2018. Critics point out that the Parkland shooter, Nikolas Cruz, was 19 years old and legally purchased the firearm used in the attack, highlighting what they see as a direct connection between age restrictions and public safety.

The Florida Senate has historically been more hesitant to change the age restriction, with previous attempts failing to gain traction. While House Speaker Daniel Perez supports the current proposal, the path through the Senate remains uncertain. The committee hearing included testimony from both gun safety groups and Second Amendment advocates, including representatives from the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America.

Legal Challenges and Federal Context

The National Rifle Association filed a lawsuit challenging Florida’s age restriction immediately after it was signed into law by then-Governor Rick Scott in 2018. This legal challenge remains active in federal court. The current legislative effort runs parallel to this ongoing litigation, representing a two-pronged approach to eliminating the age restriction. The push in Florida comes amid a broader national reconsideration of gun regulations following several U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have expanded Second Amendment protections.

Notably, even if Florida’s age restriction is lowered, federal law would still prohibit licensed dealers from selling handguns to individuals under 21, though long guns like rifles could be purchased by 18-year-olds. However, a recent U.S. appeals court ruling found the federal age restriction for handgun purchases unconstitutional under the Second Amendment, potentially setting the stage for further changes at the federal level. The Florida debate thus sits within a complex legal landscape where state and federal regulations interact with evolving constitutional interpretations.