Utah lawmaker proposes new bill to raise firearm purchase age from 18 to 21

SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah lawmaker introduced a new bill that would raise the age of purchasing a firearm to 21-years-old.

In a press release, Senator Derek Kitchen (D) announced Wednesday he opened a bill filing to raise the age of eligibility for purchasing a firearm from 18 to 21. 

“This bill is simple if you are not able to consume alcohol, why should you be able to buy a gun?” said Kitchen. “I have been a student made to participate in active shooter drills. I have met with children and parents who are scared to go to school.” 

Where are my “PRO LIFE” #utgop colleagues today? Why the silence? https://t.co/sNX5LYxXjM

— Senator Derek Kitchen (@derekkitchen) May 25, 2022

The release included a 2022 fact sheet with information from Giffords Law Center citing state laws that raised the age to 21 had a nine percent decrease in firearm suicides among 18 to 20-year-olds. 

The fact sheet also shows that 21 out of the 26 school shootings of 2022 were committed by someone under 21.

Kitchen states that Tuesday’s shooting in Uvalde, Texas was the reason for this bill.

“We offer condolences is not enough,” he said. “Where is the urgency? If we don’t act now, this will happen again and again. This bill is the least we can do to keep our communities safe.”