Today, U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch (D-FL), Thomas J. Rooney (R-FL), Pete King (R-NY), Charlie Crist (D-FL), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), and Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) introduced a bipartisan bill which would raise the minimum age requirement from 18 to 21 for gun buyers purchasing any firearm, including shotguns or rifles, from federally licensed dealers. Currently, the federal minimum age requirement to purchase handguns is 21, while the minimum age requirement for shotguns or rifles is 18.

The bill would make exceptions for law enforcement officers, correctional officers, or members of the military, and would not prohibit someone under the age of 21 from possessing a firearm.

“As I pledged to the Stoneman Douglas community, I will look for every opportunity to take action that can help keep our communities safe,” said Congressman Deutch. “Most Americans want to raise the minimum age to buy a firearm. With this bill, my Republican colleague Congressman Rooney and I are offering a bipartisan plan to help accomplish this. This legislation isn’t perfect and is only one piece of what Congress must consider. But it represents one more important bipartisan step toward our ultimate goal of comprehensive gun safety laws.”

The text of H.R. 5398 is available here.