House Bill 2744, which aimed to raise the age limit for purchasing and possessing certain semi-automatic rifles in Texas, has lost its momentum as the House Calendars Committee failed to add it to the chamber's agenda ahead of a crucial deadline. Barring an unexpected development or parliamentary procedure, the setback likely ends the bill's chances of becoming law this legislative session.
House records show that the committee report on HB 2744 was distributed to the Calendars Committee on Tuesday, May 9 at 6:54 PM. However, the committee, chaired by Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock), did not add the bill to the chamber's agenda.
State Representative Ana-Maria Ramos (D-Richardson) tweeted on Tuesday evening, "Update: The Calendars Committee did not vote out HB 2744. @Burrows4TX is holding this bill in efforts to let it die. Call the Committee to demand the bill be put on the General Calendar."
Chair of the Travis County Democratic Party Katie Naranjo expressed frustration with the decision, tweeting, "For the record: paperwork was sent to the Calendars Committee with plenty of time to meet and add #HB2744 to a floor calendar. @Burrows4TX refused! This is real for #Texans, especially #Texas parents. You want someone to blame? It’s Burrows and @TexasGOP!"
State Rep. Justin Holland (R-Rockwall), who was one of two Republicans on the committee to vote in favor of advancing the bill, posted a statement on earlier in the week, "I am not naive enough to think that laws alone will prevent the type of senseless violence that occurs all too frequently in our state. But after listening to many hours of testimony over this session, I became convinced that this small change to the law might serve as a significant roadblock to a young person (not old enough to buy tobacco or alcohol) acquiring a specific type of semi-automatic rifle intent upon using it in a destructive and illegal manner.”
“To be clear, I do not support a ban on the sale or possession of these types of rifles.” Holland continued. “In fact, I own several myself. Rather, I think that increasing the age requirement for purchase lessens the possibility that the weapon is misused while not undermining our fundamental right to keep and bear arms."
In light of the recent mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 students and 2 teachers were killed by an 18-year-old with a legally purchased semi-automatic rifle, House Bill 2744 sought to raise the age limit for purchasing and possessing certain semi-automatic rifles in Texas.
The bill aimed to address the rise in gun deaths among children and teens under the age of 18, which increased by 50% from 2019 to 2021, according to PEW research analysis of Center for Disease Control (CDC) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) data.
According to the CDC, firearms have become the leading cause of death among children and teens in Texas, surpassing motor vehicle accidents, cancer, and poisoning.
According to University of Texas polling data from April 2023, over 3 in 4 Texans support a provision to raise the legal age to purchase any firearm from 18 to 21 years of age, including 64% of those who identify as a Republican.
Those listed in favor of the bill were representatives from Moms Demand Action, Sandy Hook Promise, Everytown for Gun Safety, League of Women Voters of Texas, Community Justice, Gun Owners for Safety, Texas Pediatric Society, Texas Gun Sense, Texas Chapter of Moms Demand Action, and Texas Doctors for Social Responsibility.
Opponents of the bill included representatives from Open Carry Texas, National Shooting Sports Foundation, Crime Prevention Research Center, National Rifle Association, and Gun Owners of America.