Mecklenburg Representative Is Drafting A Bill To Raise The Age Of When You Can Purchase A Rifle

CHARLOTTE, NC.–In the wake of the deadly Florida school shooting, Mecklenburg Representative Rodney Moore is taking action. He’s drafting a bill to raise the age of when you can purchase a rifle from 18 to 21.

You already have to be 21 to buy a handgun in North Carolina. Representative Moore tells WCCB he wants the same for rifles and wants it to be a capital offense to use a rifle in a hate crime.

“It seems like mass shootings is the new normal and mostly centered around schools,” says Representative Moore.

He says his bill raising the age of being able to buy a rifle to 21, is about maturity.

“I think that 18-year-olds really don’t make the same decisions or good judgment that a 21- year- old would.”

The suspect in the shooting that left 17 people dead at Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, is 19- years- old. Officials say he bought the rifle he used in the attack, legally.

“21- year -old is still on the cusp but at least they have a better formation mentally to be able to possibly handle these types of weapons or any weapons.”

Representative Moore says another component of the bill would make it a capital offense to target one specific group.

“I’m pro-gun if that’s what the individual chooses to do but at the same time you need to do it in a responsible manner.”

Larry Hyatt of Hyatt Guns in Charlotte says background checks are what will save lives.

“We need to know if someone has mental problems so they can be put in that computer, so if they come in and they try and buy gun it can say deny,” says Hyatt.

Both Hyatt and Representative Moore agree we need to find a way to protect the future of America.