1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the “21 to Buy Act”.
21 to Buy Act
A BILL
To amend title 18, United States Code, to increase the age at which a rifle or shotgun may be acquired from a federally licensed firearms dealer, and for other purposes.
2. Increase in age at which a rifle or shotgun may be acquired from a Federally licensed firearms dealer
In general— Section 922(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—
by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
“(1) any firearm or ammunition to any individual who the licensee knows or has reasonable cause to believe has not attained 21 years of age, unless the individual is—
“(A) a law enforcement officer;
“(B) a correctional officer;
“(C) on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or full-time duty in the National Guard; or
“(D) a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard who possesses or is armed with a firearm in the line of duty;”
Conforming amendment— Section 922(c)(1) of such title is amended by striking “, or that, in the case of a shotgun or a rifle, I am eighteen years or more of age” and inserting “or am a law enforcement officer, a correctional officer, on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States or full-time duty in the National Guard, or a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard who possesses or is armed with a firearm in the line of duty”.
Definitions— Section 921(a) of such title is amended by inserting after paragraph (29) the following:
“(30) The term law enforcement officer means a person—
“(A) who is elected, appointed, or employed by the Federal Government or by a State or political subdivision thereof;
“(B) who is vested with authority to bear arms and make arrests; and
“(C) whose primary responsibility is the prevention and detection of crime or the enforcement of the penal, criminal, traffic, or highway laws,
“(31) The term correctional officer means a person—
“(A) who is appointed or employed by the Federal Government or by a State or political subdivision thereof, and whose primary responsibility is the supervision, protection, care, custody, and control, or investigation, of inmates of a correctional institution; or
“(B) who is employed by any private entity that has contracted with the Federal Government or a State or political subdivision thereof, and who has such a primary responsibility.”
Effective date— The amendments made by this section shall apply to conduct engaged in after the 6-month period that begins with the date of enactment of this Act.