Dems To Push For Age Limits For Assault-Style Weapons; Supreme Court To Hear First Major Gun Case In Nearly A Decade
Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) says he would prefer an outright ban on assault-style weapons, but hopes that the new Democratic majority in the House will push the age-limit proposal through. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court agrees to hear a right-to-carry case coming out of New York. With a potential majority after the confirmation of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, conservatives may have their chance to make a broad ruling, holding, for example, that the right to own a gun means the right to carry one.
Politico:
Dems To Push Bill Raising Minimum Age To Buy Assault-Style Weapons
Democrats are introducing a bill that would raise the minimum age to buy assault-style weapons, the latest in a multipronged effort to address a string of recent mass shootings and stifle the gun lobby’s sway since taking back the House majority. The bipartisan bill, expected to be introduced by Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) Wednesday, would prohibit anyone younger than 21 from buying semi-automatic rifles, with exceptions for active duty military personnel and some police officers. In most states, anyone 18 or older can buy what’s known as an assault-style weapon, even though the federal purchasing age for handguns is 21. (Caygle and Ferris, 1/23)
NPR:
Supreme Court To Take Up First Gun Case In Nearly A Decade
With the Supreme Court now having five justices who are less likely to approve of gun regulations and laws, it granted a major gun case Tuesday for the first time in nearly a decade. The court granted a right-to-carry case out of New York that that pits the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association against the City of New York. New York bans transporting permitted handguns outside city lines, even if the gun is not loaded and is locked in a container. The guns currently can only be taken to the handful of shooting ranges within city limits. (Montanaro and Totenberg, 1/22)
