H.R. 2368: Raise the Age Act of 2025
Sponsor
Glenn Ivey
Democrat · MD-4
Most semiautomatic rifles would join handguns at age 21
Why it matters
Federal law already stops anyone under 21 from buying a handgun at a gun store. It does not stop an 18-year-old from walking out with a semiautomatic rifle. H.R. 2368 would close that split for any semiautomatic centerfire rifle or shotgun that holds, or can accept, more than 5 rounds. Active-duty service members and armed government employees under 21 would still qualify.
H.R. 2368, the Raise the Age Act of 2025, changes one line of federal firearms law: the minimum age a licensed dealer may sell you a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or shotgun. Today that age is 18. The bill raises it to 21 for any such gun that has, or can accept, an ammunition feeding device holding more than 5 rounds.
Five rounds is a low bar. Detachable rifle magazines are commonly sold in 10- and 30-round sizes, so in practice the threshold reaches most modern semiautomatic centerfire rifles. What matters is what the gun can accept, not what it ships with — a rifle sold with a 5-round magazine is still covered if a larger one fits.
The bill writes a definition of "ammunition feeding device" into federal law covering magazines, belts, drums, and feed strips. It carves out one thing: a fixed tubular magazine that only runs .22 caliber rimfire ammunition. Rimfire plinking rifles with tube magazines stay outside the new rule.
This is not a blanket 21-and-up rule for long guns. Bolt-action rifles, pump shotguns, and other non-semiautomatic firearms would still be legal for an 18-year-old to buy from a dealer, along with ammunition. The existing federal bar on dealer handgun sales to buyers under 21 stays exactly as it is.
The exception is written narrowly. If you are under 21, you would still qualify only as an active-duty member of the Armed Forces, or as a full-time federal, state, or local government employee whose job authorizes you to carry a firearm. A part-time or volunteer role would not count under the bill's definition.
Dealers pick up new paperwork. The certification a buyer signs would be rewritten into three tracks: at least 21 or a qualified individual for covered semiautomatic guns, at least 21 for handguns, and at least 18 for any other rifle or shotgun. The dealer has to know which track the firearm on the counter falls into.
The bill ends with an unrelated oversight item. Within 90 days of enactment, the FBI Director would owe the House and Senate Judiciary Committees a report on how the bureau's public access tip line passes information to field offices, plus recommendations for improving it.
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Mar 26, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
H.R. 2368 Bill Summary
What H.R. 2368 actually does.
Semiautomatic rifles and shotguns over 5 rounds move to 21
A licensed dealer could not sell or deliver a semiautomatic centerfire rifle or shotgun that has, or can accept, a feeding device holding more than 5 rounds to anyone under 21 who does not meet the bill's exception.
Capacity is measured by what the gun accepts
The restriction applies to firearms with the capacity to accept an over-5-round feeding device, not only those sold with one. A covered rifle stays covered regardless of the magazine in it at the point of sale.
Bolt-actions, pumps, and .22 tube guns stay at 18
The bill keeps the federal 18-year minimum for dealer sales of firearms and ammunition generally. Rifles and shotguns outside the covered semiautomatic category remain available to buyers 18 and older, and fixed tubular magazines limited to .22 rimfire ammunition are excluded from the definition of a feeding device.
Handgun age rules are unchanged
Dealer sales of firearms that are neither rifles nor shotguns, which includes handguns, remain barred to buyers under 21. The bill restates that rule rather than altering it.
The under-21 exception is limited to two groups
A new federal definition of "qualified individual" covers active-duty members of the Armed Forces and full-time federal, state, or local government employees authorized to carry a firearm during official duties.
Buyer certifications split into three categories
The written statement a purchaser signs would be rewritten so the buyer certifies they are at least 21 or a qualified individual for covered semiautomatic guns, at least 21 for handguns, or at least 18 for any other rifle or shotgun.
The FBI owes Congress a tip line report in 90 days
Within 90 days of enactment, the FBI Director must report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on information-sharing protocols between the bureau's public access line and its field offices, with recommendations for improvement.
Who benefits from H.R. 2368?
Active-duty service members under 21
An 18-year-old soldier, sailor, airman, or Marine would keep the ability to buy a covered semiautomatic rifle or shotgun from a licensed dealer, written directly into the statute rather than left to agency interpretation.
Young full-time officers and armed federal employees
A full-time police officer, deputy, or federal employee under 21 whose job authorizes carrying a firearm would fall inside the exception for personal purchases from a dealer.
Groups pushing to raise the purchase age
Advocates who have argued the federal age gap between handguns and semiautomatic rifles should close would get that change written into federal law, applied at every federally licensed dealer.
The Judiciary Committees
Both committees would receive a required FBI accounting within 90 days of how tips coming into the public access line reach the field offices that would act on them.
Who is affected by H.R. 2368?
18-, 19-, and 20-year-old buyers
For three years of legal adulthood, a covered semiautomatic centerfire rifle or shotgun could not be bought from a licensed dealer unless the buyer is on active duty or is an armed full-time government employee.
Licensed firearms dealers
Every sale would need the firearm sorted by action type, cartridge type, and feeding-device capacity before the age rule and matching buyer certification can be applied. Misclassifying a firearm means applying the wrong age rule to the sale.
Gun manufacturers and retailers selling to young adults
Semiautomatic centerfire rifles are among the most common long guns sold at retail. Moving them to 21 removes a customer age band that currently has legal access to them.
Part-time and volunteer first responders under 21
The bill's definition requires full-time employment. A part-time deputy, reserve officer, or volunteer role would not meet it as written.
FBI leadership
The Director faces a fixed 90-day deadline to document how tips reaching the public access line are passed to field offices, and to name specific improvements.
HR2368 Legislative Journey
House: Committee Action
Mar 26, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
About the Sponsor
Glenn Ivey
Democrat, Maryland's 4th congressional district · 3 years in Congress
Committees: Ethics, Appropriations
View full profile →
Cosponsors (171)
All 171 cosponsors are Democrats. Cosponsors represent 35 states: Alabama, Arizona, California, and 32 more.
Mary Scanlon
Democrat · PA
Joe Neguse
Democrat · CO
Gabe Amo
Democrat · RI
Yassamin Ansari
Democrat · AZ
Nanette Barragán
Democrat · CA
Joyce Beatty
Democrat · OH
Wesley Bell
Democrat · MO
Ami Bera
Democrat · CA
Donald Beyer
Democrat · VA
Brendan Boyle
Democrat · PA
Shontel Brown
Democrat · OH
Julia Brownley
Democrat · CA
Cosponsor Coverage Map
Committee Sponsors
Judiciary Committee
17 of 44 committee members cosponsored
2 Democrats across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does H.R. 2368 change?
1 changes
Sections Amended
Section 921(a) of such title
adding at the end the following: ``(38) The term `qualified individual' means-- ``(A) a member of the Armed Forces on active duty; and ``(B) a full-time employee of the United States, a State, or a political subdivision of a State who in the course of his or her official duties is authorized to carry a firearm
H.R. 2368 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Judiciary
- Chamber
- House
- Policy
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Introduced
- Mar 26, 2025
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Mar 26, 2025
Official Sources
Official bill page with the full text, actions, cosponsors, and committee referral for the Raise the Age Act of 2025.
Section 922(b)(1) and 922(c)(1) are the provisions H.R. 2368 rewrites to set the dealer-sale age and the buyer certification.
The definitions section the bill would expand to add "qualified individual" and "ammunition feeding device."
ATF guidance on the current federal minimum ages for dealer sales — 18 for rifles and shotguns, 21 for everything else — which is the split this bill would change.
ATF compliance reference for federal firearms licensees, who would carry the new classification and certification burden.
The transaction record that carries the buyer certification H.R. 2368 would split into three age categories.
The FBI tip line whose information-sharing protocols Section 3 of the bill requires the Director to report on within 90 days.
The committee H.R. 2368 was referred to in March 2025, and one of the two committees the FBI report would be delivered to.
H.R. 2368 Common Questions
Would H.R. 2368 stop 18-year-olds from buying any rifle?
No. Bolt-action rifles, pump shotguns, and other non-semiautomatic long guns could still be sold to buyers 18 and older, along with ammunition. The bill only moves semiautomatic centerfire rifles and shotguns over the 5-round line to 21.
Which guns would move to 21 under H.R. 2368?
Semiautomatic centerfire rifles and shotguns that have, or can accept, a feeding device holding more than 5 rounds. What counts is what the gun can accept, so a rifle sold with a 5-round magazine is still covered if a larger one fits it.
Does H.R. 2368 apply to private gun sales between individuals?
No. Every restriction in the bill runs through federally licensed dealers. Private transfers between individuals are governed by other federal and state law, which H.R. 2368 does not touch.
Who is exempt from the under-21 restriction?
Two groups. Active-duty members of the Armed Forces, and full-time federal, state, or local government employees who are authorized to carry a firearm during official duties. Part-time and volunteer roles do not meet the bill's definition.
Are .22 rifles with tube magazines covered?
Not by the feeding-device rule. The bill defines an ammunition feeding device to include magazines, belts, drums, and feed strips, but specifically excludes an attached tubular device that only runs .22 caliber rimfire ammunition.
Does H.R. 2368 change the federal age for handgun sales?
No. Federal law already bars licensed dealers from selling handguns to buyers under 21, and the bill restates that rule without changing it.
What would gun dealers have to do differently?
Classify each firearm before the sale, then take the matching certification. Buyers would certify they are at least 21 or a qualified individual for covered semiautomatic guns, at least 21 for handguns, or at least 18 for any other rifle or shotgun.
Why does a gun bill include an FBI tip line report?
It is a separate oversight provision. Within 90 days of enactment, the FBI Director would have to tell the Judiciary Committees how tips reaching the bureau's public access line get passed to field offices, and recommend improvements.
Is H.R. 2368 likely to pass?
It has not moved. The bill was referred to the House Judiciary Committee in March 2025 and has had no hearing or vote. All 171 cosponsors are Democrats, and the committee is controlled by Republicans.
Based on H.R. 2368 bill text
H.R. 2368 Bill Text
“To amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit a Federal firearms licensee from selling or delivering certain semiautomatic centerfire rifles or semiautomatic centerfire shotguns to a person under 21 years of age, with exceptions for active duty military personnel and full-time law enforcement officers, and for other purposes.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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