Uvalde County commissioners pass resolution calling for special session, raising age to buy AR-15s

The Uvalde County commissioners are calling on Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to bring lawmakers to Austin for a special session in the wake of the shooting at Robb Elementary School. In a resolution passed Monday, the commissioners pushed for Texas lawmakers to consider raising the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic assault-style rifles from 18 to 21. The gunman in the Uvalde shooting had just turned 18 years old when he purchased two assault-style rifles legally at a local outdoors retailer.

Currently, 18 is the minimum age under federal law for buying a rifle, including assault rifles. In Texas, you must be 21 to purchase a pistol but only 18 to buy a long gun, which includes rifles and shotguns. The commissioners’ resolution states that “during the past decade, gun violence has increased dramatically across the United States, in the State of Texas, and within our County.” “It is our duty to protect every person and child of Uvalde County,” the resolution adds.