TAMPA, Fla. — A Florida state senator proposed legislation that would lower the minimum age to buy long guns, rifles and shotguns, from 21 to 18.

What You Need To Know

  • The age to purchase long guns, rifles and shotguns was raised to 21 in 2018

  • The age change happened after the Parkland school shooting 

  • Brevard County Republican State Sen. Randy Fine proposed legislation that would repeal the law

The age to purchase these weapons was raised to 21 in 2018 following the Parkland school shooting that killed 17 students and staff.

It’s a potential change that Russ Abston, a gun store supervisor at Bill Jackson’s Shop for Adventure, is unsure of the impact it will have on the business.

“If the law does change somebody from 18 to 20 who previously couldn’t buy in the last six years, a long gun, will now be able to purchase one legally,” he said.

Brevard County Republican State Sen. Randy Fine is the one proposing to repeal the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Safety Act.

Abston said following the initial implementation of the law, he remembers having to explain the changes to some of their younger customers.

“It seemed to me like business dropped off a little bit, maybe not a significant amount,” he said. “We still get a lot of business from rifles and shotguns, even if you’re not 21 yet.”

If the law changes, Russ said it will only affect a small percentage of their customers.