Sen. Mitt Romney has broken with the majority of his fellow Republicans on the GOP's topic du jour.
In an email to CNN, the Utah Republican said he supports raising the minimum age for buying semi-automatic assault weapons from 18 to 21. (RELATED: Manchin Supports Raising Age Limit on Guns, Open to Assault Weapons Ban)
The announcement is a noticeable departure from Romney's previous stance.
WATCH:
As Mediaite reports:
As the United States continues to discuss gun reform in response to the nation's recent series of mass shootings, one of the most recurring proposals has been whether to raise the age limit for when people are legally allowed to own AR-15s and similar weapons.
CNN's Ana Cabrera was discussing the Democratic push for gun safety with Manu Raju when she reported that the network received an email from Romney's office, and “he's in favor of shifting the age to buy assault style weapons from 18 to 21.”
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a sweeping gun control bill that would raise the minimum age for purchasing assault-style weapons, although it faces long odds in the Senate.
The Protecting Our Kids Act would also ban the sale of large-capacity magazines and introduce new at-home gun storage requirements. (RELATED: These Republicans Surrendered on Gun Rights Last Night)
CNBC adds:
The House earlier voted by a 228 to 199 margin to include the purchasing age provision — under heavy scrutiny after two recent massacres carried out by 18-year-olds — in the broader bill.
The package is a collection of several pieces of legislation designed to limit access to guns and other firearm equipment in the wake of last month's mass shootings in Buffalo, New York, and Uvalde, Texas, that left 31 Americans dead.
READ NEXT: Mass Shooting With Multiple Victims Reported Near DC >>
I personally have no problem with raising the purchase age to 21. How many lives are saved because we’ve raised the drinking age to 21? Physically, you’re an adult at 18, yes. But, emotionally, 18-year-olds — especially in this day and age — have A LOT of maturing to do.
Besides that, existing gun laws need to be enforced more consistently and cops CAN’T wait to confront gunmen who are murdering people. Thinking about what happened in that Texas classroom made me physically ill…
What part of, “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED” do our elected officials do not understand?
Someone looking to do bad things I guess they think they are going to gun store to buy one. The gun laws make it harder on the good people who follow law. Someone with bad things on there mind are just going to steal it. I agree with you 100 percent
If they raise the age to buy a gun, they need to raise the age for serving in the US Military as well. This is just another chip away at the 2nd Amendment. Besides, would raising the age have stopped the guy that shot up Las Vegas? I think he was in his 50s. There are plenty more examples.
All they ever do is make it harder on people who do it legal. There are way to many guns around wich is not a bad thing. When you get someone stupid behind one is when it’s a problem. If government says u don’t need one. You better go buy one.
romney is not a ‘top republican’ by any stretch.
When are they going to get it through their thick skulls that we don’t t need more “gun control?” What we need is more “criminal control” and more consequences for actions while these people are still growing up. We need to make people (of all ages) take responsibility for their actions. Obviously giving a little pat on the wrist, not even a slap, when they do something anti-social or criminal isn’t working. Let the kids know, beginning at an early age and continuing until they demonstrate understanding, that actions have consequences, both good and bad, depending on the action and in direct proportion to the action.
If they raise the age to purchase a long gun because of a miniscule number of nut cases, do they really think that is going to stop somebody who has already decided to break the law and kill people? They will get the weapon through unlawful means or they will wait until they turn 21 at which point they will probably be more effective and efficient at killing more people because they will have had additional time to plan, learn and practice. How about interventions while these kids are still in school and more easily monitored and controlled? Get rid of the sealed juvenile records, open them up for any kids who show sociopathic tendencies, get them the help they need and add them to the NCIS database. Be pro-active for once.
And if they aren’t mature enough to purchase a gun at 18 then they certainly are not mature enough to make life-altering decisions like mutilating their bodies in an attempt to change their gender (something that is actually impossible to do with today’s medical technology) at any age before their mid-20s.
He has broken with Republicans? When has he been with them, supporting them? I would love to know what dirt they have on this scumbag. I bet it’s the reason he always leans left. He is compromised. Can’t people start digging around and find out who these people really are instead of who they say they are?
I have an idea. Do not sell guns to demonrats, because we all know liberalism is a mental illness in today’s culture
Lol!! Best one I’ve read
C’mon Utah! You can elect a better Mormon Conservative than this squishy RINO. Make it so.
I don’t care what he thinks. His script has been written by satan.
Smittens “Pierre DeLecto” Romney, the human gumby. A petty vindictive crooked lying dishonest spineless worthless worm.
I seem to remember that during the Clinton era assualt weapons were baned and required a special federl permit to obtain one. What changed? Oh yeah, the left moved the goal posts again. If it looks like, but in fact is far from an assualt rilfle then it’s bad.