Congressman Glenn Ivey Announces Introduction of Raise the Age Act

Congressman Glenn Ivey (MD-04), today, announced his introduction of the Raise the Age Act.  This is the first bill that he has sponsored.  He has 61 Co-Sponsors as of April 26, 2023.

Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04), Chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force (GVPTF) and Ms. Adzi Vokhiwa, Federal Affairs Director of GIFFORDS, a nonprofit gun violence prevention advocacy group founded by former Rep. Gabby Giffords of Arizona joined Congressman Glenn Ivey, (MD-04) today to highlight the commonsense legislation raising the age from 18 to 21 to purchase centerfire cartridge rifles.  This, in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, Buffalo Supermarket Slaying and Newtown Connecticut’s Sandy Hook tragedy where all the shooters had recently turned 18, is a bill that could save lives.

"I chose a gun violence prevention bill as the first legislation I introduced because we should never choose the Second Amendment over Second Graders or ban books in schools instead of banning semi-auto assault rifles in those places of learning.  Raising the age from 18 to 21 will prevent some mass shootings and is a good step in the right direction to keep our kids safe," said Congressman Ivey.

A copy of Rep. Ivey's remarks from the floor of the House of Representatives is attached.

"Mr. Ivey is absolutely spot-on with regards to common sense pieces of legislation to keep our communities safe," said GVPTF, Chairman Rep. Mike Thompson, (CA-04). 

"We are enormously grateful to Congressman Ivey for introducing the Raise the Age Act to ensure people under the age of 21 who want to purchase long guns are no longer able to do that.  People from age 18-20 although they make up only 4% of the population are responsible for 17% of the homicides, it's important to close that loophole," said Adzi Vokhiwa of GIFFORDS.

The bill is now designated H.R. 2870. 

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