21 to Buy Act
Bill: H.R.4992 | Sponsor: Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. (D-FL)
Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement

Summary:
21 to Buy Act
This bill generally prohibits a licensed gun dealer, manufacturer, importer, or collector from selling or transferring a shotgun or rifle to an individual who is under 21 years of age.

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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``21 to Buy Act''.

SEC. 2. INCREASE IN AGE AT WHICH A RIFLE OR SHOTGUN MAY BE ACQUIRED 
              FROM A FEDERALLY LICENSED FIREARMS DEALER.

    (a) In General.--Section 922(b) of title 18, United States Code, is 
amended--
            (1) 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;''.
    (b) 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''.
    (c) 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,
including any supervisory or command personnel whose duties include the 
supervision, training, guidance, or management of any such person.
    ``(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.''.
    (d) 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.
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