New York’s legislature passed a bill to ban anyone under 21 years old from buying or owning a semi-automatic rifle, the Associated Press reports.
Why it matters: The legislation passed in the wake of multiple mass shootings throughout the country, including an attack that saw 10 people killed in Buffalo, New York.
Details: The new legislation requires people buying a semi-automatic rifle to get a license, which is only currently necessary for handguns.
- Those under 21 would still be allowed to have other types of rifles and shotguns but banned from owning weapons like the ones used in the Buffalo shooting and the Uvalde, Texas, shooting, AP reports.
- The state currently requires people to be 21 years old to possess a handgun, per AP.
The big picture: The new legislation is the centerpiece of a number of gun control bills announced by New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and other Democratic leaders.
- Other bills would restrict civilians form buying bullet-resistant armor, and require new guns to have microstamping technology that will help investigators trace bullets, NPR reports.
- Some Republican officials have hinted that they’d be open to conversations about raising age requirements for AR-15 style rifles.
Source:axios.com