Delegates pass bill to raise firearm possession age to 21 after floor debate

Emery Owens, the bill's proponent, told the chamber the measure "raises a firearm possession age to 21" and framed it as a safety step after campus incidents and youth suicides.

"The 18 to 20 year old age group is a major transition period...New stressors like college, joining the workforce, and leaving the home make this group extremely high risk for firearm suicide and homicide," Owens said in opening remarks.

Opponents pressed practical and constitutional questions. Anthony Keith asked whether the bill "ban[s] the ownership of all firearms or just assault rifles" for 18- to 20-year-olds; Owens replied the bill covers "all firearms," and said military and police are exempt because federal law supersedes state law and those jobs already have 21 as a minimum. Keith also raised Second Amendment concerns, and asked about enforcement.

On enforcement, Owens said police could seek court orders or receive consent to search when there is reason to suspect unlawful possession and suggested transfer or surrender to licensed dealers as options. On use for hunting, Owens clarified in closing remarks that while the bill would bar possession by 18- to 20-year-olds in general, it would not prohibit supervised use: "even though if [someone] would no longer be able to possess firearms, they can still use them, in use of hunting, trapping, shooting competitions."

After floor debate and a proponent's closing, the chair moved to a vote. The chair declared an "obvious majority" and announced the bill passes; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

Why it matters: supporters argued the measure reduces access to firearms during a high-risk life stage without eliminating supervised or sanctioned uses; opponents raised enforcement and constitutional questions that went unanswered on the floor.

The House moved immediately to other business after the vote; no additional amendments were recorded.