New Jersey Assembly advances bill raising firearm purchase age to 21
TRENTON - New Jersey would change the age for purchasing rifles and shotguns from 18 to 21 under legislation an Assembly committee has advanced.
The Assembly Judiciary Committee passed bills Wednesday aimed at tightening the state’s already strict gun laws.
The measure comes after fatal shootings in Texas and New York in which authorities identified the shooters as 18-year-olds.
The fate of the age bill is uncertain because the state Senate has not so far taken up the measure.
Under current law, New Jersey requires residents to be 21 to purchase a handgun.
The new measure would raise the age threshold to 21 for those seeking to purchase rifles and shotguns.