Should People Under Age 16 be Banned From Possessing or Using Assault Weapons? (S. 3171)
Do you support or oppose this bill?
What is S. 3171?
(Updated May 22, 2020)
This bill would prohibit people under the age of 16 from possessing or using guns that are defined as a “machinegun” or “semiautomatic assault weapon” by the legislation. The ban would prevent people under the age of 16 from having a covered weapon sold, transferred, or loaned to them — even for use at a firing range. Violations of this legislation would be punished by fines, imprisonment of up to 10 years, or a combination thereof.
The term “semiautomatic assault weapon” would be defined as meaning a rifle, pistol, or shotgun with a detachable magazine that carries more than 10 rounds (five rounds for shotguns), parts designed to accelerate the rate of fire, or has one of the following characteristics:
Pistol grip;
Forward grip;
Folding, telescoping, or detachable stock;
Barrel shroud;
Threaded barrel;
The ability to attach a grenade or rocket launcher.
The legislation also defines specific types and brands of weapons as “semiautomatic assault weapons” including all AK and AR rifles, all Thompson rifles, and several other varieties specifically mentioned in subsection (b) of the bill’s text.
Argument in favor
There’s never a need for a person under the age of 16 to possess an assault weapon. It should be illegal for someone so young to ever have one in their possession, even at a firing range.
Argument opposed
This bill would wrongly revoke the ability of parents to teach their children about responsible gun ownership while using many of the most popular models of rifles, pistols, and shotguns.
Impact
People under the age of 16, their families and friends; gun ranges and gun sellers; plus law enforcement and judicial entities at all levels of government.
Cost of S. 3171
A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.
Additional Info
In-Depth: Sponsoring Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) introduced this bill to keep what he views as powerful firearms out of the hands of people under age 16:
“The small hands of children and big power of machine guns are a deadly combination. The HEART Act is simple and straightforward. It prohibits the transfer of a machine gun or semiautomatic weapon to anyone under the age of 16. Not at a gun range, not at a gun show, not while hunting, not anywhere, anytime. Assault weapons are weapons of war and should not be allowed in the hands of children.”
Todd Rather, the executive director of a gun rights group known as NFA Freedom Alliance offered the following critique of what he views as an assault on “the ability for a parent to choose the manner and type of gun safety” their family receives:
“As it is drafted, this bill would prohibit a parent from allowing their child to hunt or target shoot with millions of the most common, popular, and safe firearms in existence, including the ubiquitous Ruger 10/22 .22 caliber rifle — the most popular rimfire rifle in America — if it has common features such as a threaded barrel, folding stock, or a pistol grip. If a parent hands a gun on this massive ‘ban list’ to their child, the parent could go to federal prison.”
Media:
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Sponsoring Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA) Press Release
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AmmoLand
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Guns.com
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Washington Examiner
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Washington Times
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This country should ban assault rifles. There is no reason why anyone should own an assault rifle. Everyone is well aware of how dangerous this weapon is especially in the hands of a mass murderer. Let's save lives. Let's make our citizens feel safe in this country. Let's stop the daily horror stories of children, students, people getting killed in the U.S. Let's stop the fear perpetuated by people who only want power to control this country! BAN ASSAULT WEAPONS!