[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S978-S979]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. PADILLA (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Booker, Mr. 
        Coons, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. Durbin, Mrs. Gillibrand, Ms. Hirono, 
        Mr. Kaine, Ms. Klobuchar, Mr. Murphy, Mrs. Murray, Mr. Reed, 
        Mr. Sanders, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Schiff, Ms. Warren, Mr. 
        Whitehouse, and Mr. Wyden):
  S. 597. A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit the 
purchase of certain firearms by individuals under 21 years of age, and 
for other purposes; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Age 21 Act, 
a vital piece of legislation aimed at reducing gun violence and 
enhancing the safety of all Americans.
  The Age 21 Act would prohibit the sale of assault weapons, large-
capacity ammunition, and related items to individuals under the age of 
21.
  However, this bill includes reasonable exceptions to allow temporary 
transfer or possession of assault weapons for specific activities, such 
as recreational use or work-related responsibilities, including Active 
military service.
  Every American has the right to live free from the fear of gun 
violence. Yet this epidemic continues to devastate our communities, 
claiming over 46,000 lives in 2023 alone, the third-highest number of 
gun-related deaths ever recorded. This ongoing crisis demands urgent 
and meaningful action.

[[Page S979]]

  Assault weapons--engineered for military purposes--are designed to 
inflict maximum damage in the shortest amount of time. Unsurprisingly, 
they are frequently chosen by those who perpetrate mass violence. Their 
deadly impact is tragically evident in many of our Nation's darkest 
moments.
  In 2022, an 18-year-old gunman in Uvalde, TX, used an AR-15-style 
rifle to kill 19 children and 2 teachers at Robb Elementary School. In 
2018, a 19-year-old gunman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 
Parkland, FL, murdered 17 students and staff members with an AR-15 
rifle. And in 2012, a 20-year-old gunman used an AR-15-style rifle to 
kill 20 children and 6 educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 
Newtown, CT.
  These are not isolated incidents but part of devastating pattern. 
Data shows that more than 85 percent of fatalities in public mass 
shootings involving four or more deaths are caused by assault rifles. 
The evidence is clear: These weapons amplify the scale of violence and 
loss of life.
  Scientific research supports raising the minimum age for accessing 
such destructive weapons. Studies show that the human brain continues 
to develop into a person's mid-20s, particularly in areas related to 
impulse control, judgment, and long-term planning. Recognizing this, 
Federal law already restricts the purchase of alcohol and tobacco to 
individuals over 21, commonsense measures to protect public safety. 
Assault weapons, with their unparalleled potential for destruction, 
deserve no less consideration.
  Americans deserve to feel safe in their schools, places of worship, 
and neighborhoods. By passing the Age 21 Act, we can take a meaningful 
step to reduce the availability of these deadly weapons to young 
individuals, helping to save lives and prevent future tragedies.
  Public safety is a shared responsibility, and this bill represents an 
important measure to strengthen our collective efforts to combat gun 
violence. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
legislation and working to pass the Age 21 Act as swiftly as possible.
                                 ______