HB1174 raises the minimum age to purchase a handgun or assault firearm to 21, and expands the definition of “assault firearm” for background checks. Buyers must consent to a criminal history check, and dealers must verify their age. It also creates a Class 6 felony for anyone under 21 who purchases these firearms.
The Virginia State Senate passed HB1174 on March 8, 2024 by a vote of 21 to 19. We have assigned pluses to the nays because the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution expressly declares that the right of the American people “to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Raising the minimum age for lawful adults to purchase firearms and expanding background-check requirements impose unconstitutional restrictions on gun rights. These measures arbitrarily deny young adults their God-given right to self-defense and set a dangerous precedent for further government overreach.