The US House of Representatives has decided to raise from 18 to 21 the minimum age for purchasing semi-automatic rifles and shotguns.

Additionally, the legislation would prohibit the sale of ammunition magazines that hold more than 15 rounds.

The decision was made after significant shootings at a school in Uvalde, Texas, and a supermarket in Buffalo, New York. A gunman recently killed four individuals at a medical clinic in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The law was enacted by a vote of 223-204 in the Democratic-controlled House. Five Republicans supported the measures, while two Democrats opposed them.

Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House, stated that the vote would "make history by making progress." Meanwhile, Representative Jim Jordan of the Republican Party asserted that Democrats are pushing unconstitutional policies.

Gun control is undoubtedly doomed in the contentious Senate.
It seems improbable that the plan will be approved by the Senate, which is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

The Senate has prioritized school safety and mental health legislation over gun control legislation. For legislation to pass the upper chamber, at least 60 votes are required.

This week, Senate Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged his party members to "keep talking" with Senate Republicans about bipartisan gun reform.

Wednesday, an 11-year-old survivor of the Uvalde massacre told lawmakers about her harrowing experience, putting Congress under pressure to take action in response to recent shootings.

US President Joe Biden has urged a ban on assault rifles, among other steps, to reduce gun violence. During a Tuesday visit to the White House, actor Matthew McConaughey, a native of Uvalde, made an impassioned pitch for gun control and other initiatives.