Texas bill raising age to buy semi-automatic rifles moves forward

AUSTIN, Texas (KVIA) -- The Texas House Select Committee on Community Safety passed House Bill 2744 Monday. It will now move to the House Calendars Committee and be considered for a floor vote.

The current legislative session ends at the end of May, giving legislators just a few weeks to possibly pass the measure.

House Bill 2744 would raise the minimum age to buy a semi-automatic rifle to 21. This comes after the Uvalde, Texas school shooting, when an 18-year-old gunman legally purchased a rifle and used it to kill nearly two dozen students and two teachers.

The bill passed the Select Committee with an 8 to 5 vote.