Texas lawmakers unexpectedly advance bill to raise age on some gun purchases

A Texas House committee on Monday introduced a bill that increase the minimum age to buy some semi-automatic rifles, a surprising moment for the Republican-led chamber.

Two republicansstate representatives Sam Harless and Justin Holland, joined six democrats to advance the invoice, HB 2744, in a vote of 8-5. The legislation would raise the minimum age required to purchase many semi-automatic firearms from 18 to 21. Police officers, military officers and veterans would be exempt from the law, as would those who use firearms to hunt or compete.

But despite Monday’s victory, the bill faces an uphill battle to become law in the Republican-controlled Texas legislature, which has moved to ease gun restrictions in recent years despite a series of of mass shootings. Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan (R) said he did not believe the bill would have the votes to pass, but told the Texas Tribune he would not move to block its debate.

the bill was defended by relatives of the victims of the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting last year that left 21 dead, including 19 children. Supporters rallied at the Texas Capitol building Monday chanting “raise the age!” and got excited as he progressed through the panel. The shooter in the Uvalde attack used an AR-15-style rifle that was purchased legally just days after his 18th birthday, and critics of the legislature argue the massacre could have been prevented with stricter gun control laws.

“Tess had no choice between life or death. But you, as leaders, can choose what my daughter’s life will be remembered for,” Verónica Mata, whose daughter was killed in the Uvalde shooting, said lawmakers last month during a hearing on the bill. “Will he die in vain or will his life have saved another child?”

Monday’s event came just days after a gunman opened fire at a mall in Allen, Texas, killing eight people and hospitalizing seven others before police killed him. The gunman in that attack was 33 years old, meaning any change in the law would not have affected his ability to acquire a semi-automatic weapon.

another gunslinger shot and killed five neighbors in Cleveland, Texas, last month after being asked to stop firing a gun in his yard.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said Sunday that the state would focus its efforts on addressing “mental health problemsbehind gun violence, but did not mention gun control.

President Joe Biden has urged Congress to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines, saying he would sign such legislation “immediately” if possible. But neither are such efforts likely to advance in the GOP-controlled house.