On May 8, with two Republicans joining six Democrats, Texas House Bill 2744 which would raise the age limit to purchase and possess certain semi-automatic rifles passed out of the House Select Committee on Community Safety.
The bill would prohibit the transfer of these firearms to individuals under 21, with exceptions for peace officers and military personnel.
The progress of the bill was celebrated by Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action volunteers, who had been advocating for its advancement at the Texas State Capitol. A tweet from Moms Demand Action stated, "IT’S WORKING: In the wake of another mass shooting in Texas, our volunteers converged on the Texas State Capitol today, demanding lawmakers take swift action on a bill that would #RaiseTheAge to purchase and possess firearms from 18 to 21! Hours later, the bill advanced!"
Public comments submitted to the Committee on Community Safety on HB2744 expressed support for the bill, with many emphasizing the need to address underage gun violence in Texas.
Janine Conner from Houston, Texas urged lawmakers to pass the bill, stating, "Please vote for and pass HB2744. The bill could have prevented 19 children and 2 teachers from being killed in Uvalde. Raise the age. This is vitally important."
Another Houston resident, Paul Burdick supports the bill and saying, "Research shows that 18- to 20-year olds commit gun homicides at triple the rate of adults 21 and older. Data shows that we need to raise the age."
Dr. Jess Smith, a professor from Waco, argued, "I absolutely support raising the age from 18 to 21. The frontal lobe is not fully developed until age 25. Young adults do not need access to semiautomatic rifles. They have legal access to other weapons for the purpose of sport or self-defense."
Laura Krebs-Holm, a mother, wife, and dietitian from Austin, shared her perspective on the issue: "Every morning, when I drop my daughter off, I hug her tight, kiss her, and tell her I love her, with this tiny niggling fear of 'what if.' If a young person cannot buy certain handguns, they should also not be allowed to buy high-capacity semiautomatic rifles. We need to close this loophole." Krebs-Holm expressed her gratitude for the hard work being done on this vital issue for Texans.
However, not everyone agrees with the proposed legislation.
State Representative Matt Schaefer (R-Tyler) expressed concerns about the bill, tweeting, "There is a very thin political barrier standing between Texans and the loss of Second Amendment rights."
According to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data from 2021, firearms are the leading cause of death among children and teens in Texas, ahead of motor vehicle accidents, cancer, and poisoning.
PEW research analysis of CDC and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data found that gun deaths among children and teens under the age of 18 rose by 50% in just two years, from 1,732 in 2019 to 2,590 in 2021.
The Texas Tribune reported that earlier this year, House Speaker Dade Phelan expressed his doubts about HB 2744 garnering enough votes to pass the chamber, but said he would not hinder its debate. Governor Abbott has challenged the constitutionality of the proposed law.