Texas House committee passes bill to raise the age to purchase semiautomatic rifles

The vote got here two days after a gunman killed eight individuals at an outlet mall in Allen—and almost a yr after 19 college students and two lecturers have been killed at Robb Elementary College in Uvalde.

Home Invoice 2744 has been pushed for months by the households of those that died in Uvalde. The invoice’s creator, Rep. Tracy King, represents Uvalde.

If it turns into regulation, the invoice would increase the minimal age required to buy semiautomatic rifles—just like the one utilized in Uvalde—from 18 to 21. Federal regulation states that Individuals should be no less than 21 years previous to buy a handgun, however related necessities don’t exist for assault weapons on the state or federal ranges.

The Home Choose Committee on Neighborhood Security, which offers with gun-related laws, voted 8-5 to ship HB 2744 to the Home flooring. Republican Reps. Sam Harless of Spring and Justin Holland of Rockwall voted with Democrats in favor of the invoice.

A shock vote

That morning, Uvalde households and gun security advocates held a rally on the Capitol, asking lawmakers to take motion on the invoice—which had stalled within the committee almost a month prior.

However Rep. Ryan Guillen, R-Rio Grande Metropolis, advised reporters he wouldn’t deliver HB 2744 to a committee vote as a result of “the assist will not be there within the Legislature.”

Guillen later switched course, scheduling an impromptu committee assembly after Democrats tried to drive the invoice to the Home flooring by way of a procedural transfer.

After lawmakers moved to advance the invoice, the group contained in the listening to room erupted into cheers and applause. Dad and mom of the Uvalde victims embraced one another and thanked the eight lawmakers who voted for the invoice.

Berlinda Arreola, the step-grandmother of 10-year-old Uvalde sufferer Amerie Jo Garza, stated households gathered on the Capitol have been completely satisfied that lawmakers raised HB 2744 for a vote in any respect.

“I do know that we’re not finished; we all know that now we have extra combating to do,” Arreola stated. “However really profitable the vote—it was simply overwhelming. It was an enormous, large success for us.”

King stated he wasn’t completely positive what modified his Republican colleagues’ votes, however thanked them for voting in favor of his invoice.

“We’re simply ecstatic that we have been capable of get it this far,” King stated. “I’m so grateful to … all of the teams that labored on this.”

Because the 2023 legislative session winds down, time is working out for the total Home to vote on the proposal—Home guidelines state that it should obtain an preliminary vote by Thursday to proceed advancing.

And in an effort to attain the Home flooring, HB 2744 should first clear the Home Calendars Committee, which is led by Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock. Burrows voted towards the invoice within the Neighborhood Security Committee.

The total committee vote on HB 2744 is beneath.

In favor:

• Rep. Jarvis Johnson, D-Houston;
• Rep. Rhetta Andrews Bowers, D-Garland;
• Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg;
• Rep. Vikki Goodwin, D-Austin;
• Rep. Sam Harless, R-Spring;
• Rep. Justin Holland, R-Rockwall;
• Rep. Tracy King, D-Batesville; and
• Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso.

In opposition to:

• Rep. Ryan Guillen, R-Rio Grande Metropolis;
• Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock;
• Rep. Mark Dorazio, R-San Antonio;
• Rep. Brooks Landgraf, R-Odessa; and
• Rep. Ellen Troxclair, R-Austin.