Hearing on raising minimum age to 21 for semiautomatic rifles and shotguns draws broad testimony
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Summary
AB 245, introduced by Assemblymember Sandra Howtege, would require purchasers/possessors of semiautomatic rifles and shotguns to be 21; supporters cited data tying age limits to reductions in youth suicide and mass-shooting risk, while opponents raised constitutional and hunting-access concerns.
The Joint Senate and Assembly Judiciary Committees heard Assembly Bill 245, which would require that a person be 21 years old to purchase or possess semiautomatic rifles and semiautomatic shotguns in Nevada.
Assemblymember Sandra Howtege, the bill’s sponsor and a survivor of mass gun violence, described the measure as aligned with existing federal law that already prevents people under 21 from purchasing handguns from licensed dealers. "The age requirement to purchase a handgun is already 21. The same should be true for assault rifles," she said, and she cited a statistic presented by witnesses attributing an 18% decrease in suicide among 18–20-year-olds after raising the handgun-purchase age to 21.
Witnesses in support included representatives of Brady, Giffords and Everytown, who emphasized data they say shows a disproportionate representation of adolescents and young adults among perpetrators of mass and other gun homicides; Ethan Murray of Giffords told the committees that studies indicate raising age thresholds reduces firearm suicides and that some states that enacted similar laws saw measurable declines in youth firearm incidents. Supporters also said the bill includes exemptions for military service members and, in a later amendment, hunting, target shooting and certain predator-control uses.
Opponents included the National Rifle Association, hunting and outdoor groups and several county and statewide Republican organizations. They argued the bill would criminalize ordinary, lawful recreational and hunting activity by young people, and they pressed the sponsors on practical issues such as how to treat firearms already owned by 18–20-year-olds (witnesses suggested sale, transfer to a family member or voluntary surrender) and whether the law would hamper family hunting and youth upland-season activities. Hunting groups said semiautomatic shotguns are common tools for waterfowl and upland bird hunters and asked for clearer hunting carve-outs. The Nevada Sheriffs and Chiefs Association and HR 218 advocates also sought language to preserve the ability of qualified off‑duty or retired law‑enforcement officers to carry.
Committee members asked detailed questions about the bill’s effect on suicides, the cited research, whether mass shooters obtain guns legally or illegally, the relationship between the bill and existing federal law, and the number of states with similar laws. Support witnesses cited Giffords and peer-reviewed research showing reductions in youth firearm deaths after age restrictions; opponents cited recent federal appellate decisions and raised constitutional concerns. The sponsor said she had an amendment to exempt military, hunting and target uses and noted a Clark County District Attorney amendment to avoid preemption issues; she closed by urging legislators to act to prevent future tragedies.
No committee vote is recorded in the hearing transcript; the measure remained in committee pending further drafting and amendment.
