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Advocates and clinicians urge age limits on semiautomatic rifles, cite school safety data
Summary
Advocacy groups, clinicians and county public‑health officials told legislators that many school shooters obtain rifles as teens or young adults and recommended raising the minimum purchase/possession age for certain semiautomatic rifles to 21 while preserving access to hunting firearms for 18–20 year olds.
Speakers at the informational hearing described the impact of gun violence on children and schools and urged lawmakers to consider an age restriction that would bar 18‑to‑20‑year‑olds from purchasing certain semiautomatic rifles.
"Setting a minimum age for firearm purchase and possession is a critical policy that could address this," Olivia Lee, senior counsel for Everytown for Gun Safety, told the committees. Lee noted that Oregon currently allows purchase of some semiautomatic rifles at age 18 and that 12 other states bar those under 21 from purchasing similar rifles.
Charlene McGee, director of Multnomah County—s Prevention Health Promotion Unit, outlined county data showing elevated firearm homicide and injury rates among young adults. "Among high school students in Portland Public Schools, 27 percent have witnessed someone being physically attacked, beaten, stabbed, or shot in their neighborhood," McGee said, and reported racial disparities in firearm homicide where Black residents experienced far higher rates than white residents.
Dr. Daniel Nikolai, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, described clinical impacts: children fearful of school, increased psychiatric admissions following exposures to community or mass shootings, and long‑term trauma for survivors.
Policy discussion: witnesses recommended a narrowly tailored minimum‑age law that would prohibit people under 21 from purchasing semiautomatic rifles often called "assault weapons" while permitting 18–20‑year‑olds to purchase many traditional hunting firearms such as manual‑action .22 rifles and certain shotguns. They cited examples—Uvalde and other mass shootings—where shooters acquired weapons just after turning 18.
Limitations and considerations: witnesses said age limits should be crafted to respect lawful hunting and sporting uses for young adults and to align with constitutional constraints. No bill text was adopted during the hearing; witnesses referenced previous legislative proposals and urged the Legislature to act without waiting for another mass tragedy.
The hearing concluded with committee staff noting questions and answer follow‑up would be posted to the official record.
