Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) questioned how proposed age restrictions in gun legislation simultaneously allows one to protect their country with a firearm yet not allow them to own a gun if they are under the age of 21.
HB1465, sponsored by Rep. Michelle Mussman (D-Schaumburg), would increase the age for the purchase or possession of assault weapons, assault weapon attachments and high-capacity magazines to 21 and allow two age-restricted exemptions for officially-sanctioned sport shooting and military service fire arm use.
“You're maintaining that the brain is not developed adequately between 18 and 21 to be responsible enough to own or use this weapon, is that correct?” Bryant asked Mussman.
After answering yes, Mussman said that while maturity levels are going to be “different for different people,” and that there is not a common standard, there is in fact reason to believe based on research “that there is a certain level of impulsivity and struggle with certain types of long-term planning,” in the ages between 18 and 21.
“But an individual can enlist in the military at the age of 18, correct, without parental permission, right?” Bryant asked.
Again, Mussman answered yes, explaining that if an individual is using a weapon in the pursuit of your job as a military member and under the age of 21, her bill would not make them subject to a felony charge as it would for a civilian.
“So an individual could be serving at age 18 and it is not likely their enlistment is going to be over before the age of 21, but let’s suppose, God forbid, the person is injured between 18 and 21 and they now become a disabled veteran and now they are home,” Bryant said. “Yesterday they were able to use a semi-automatic weapon and today they cannot simply because they are now at home rather than being away?”
Bryant wanted to know if there was any carve out for veterans and Mussman said no.
“So, by no fault of their own, they are injured, and in between 18 and 21 and we are not carving out anything for them to be able to use it,” Bryant said.
Mussman said even if they are not disabled, they may not own a gun if they are under the 21, which was when Bryant ended the debate by speaking to the bill.
“So, members, just remember that 18 to 21 someone can serve in the military, protecting their country, but at the same time, they can’t possess, own or whatever that same article,” Bryant said.
HB1465 passed the House and was moved to the Senate.
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