TAMPA, Fla. — Some state Republican lawmakers want to lower the age to purchase a long rifle from 21 to 18-years-old.

What You Need To Know

  • HB 1543 would lower age to purchase rifles from 21 to 18      

  • The proposal would reverse a law passed in 2018 in wake of Parkland School Shooting     

  • If passed, the law would go into effect in July 2023

The proposed change would reverse a 2018 law that raised the age to 21 in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, where 17 students and staff were killed.

The law also stated that people under 21-years-old can receive long rifles as gifts but cannot purchase them.

The House Criminal Justice Subcommittee voted 12 to 5 in favor of the bill on Monday.

Spectrum News spoke to a local gunsmith, Marcelo Rafaniello, who works at Ted's Firearms in Clearwater. He welcomes the proposed change, saying "If you can send an 18-year-old to go fight a war — fighting for freedom for us, why not allow them to buy?"

Those for and against the proposed change fall along party lines. "Being 18, it's recognized as being an adult, a citizen serving in our military, serving in society, voting — I felt very strongly that was the appropriate take," Republican State Rep. Tyler Sirois said.

Democrats so far have shown little support for the change. "You know, the arguments that were made yesterday were — you know, what if they can be law enforcement officers or they can be in the military, but here's the difference, there's supervision, there's training and there are rules around it," Democratic State Rep. Michele Rayner-Goolsby said.

If the bill is approved, it could be adopted as early as July 2023.