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Smith, Democratic challenger differ on solutions in wake of mass shootings

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Smith, Democratic challenger differ on solutions in wake of mass shootings

Jun 13, 2022 | 5:48 pm ET
By Paul Hammel
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Smith, Democratic challenger, differ on solutions in wake of mass shootings
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Gun rights advocates turned out in force in January to testify in support of a bill introduced in the Nebraska Legislature that would do away with the state license and training requirements to carry a concealed handgun. (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

LINCOLN — U.S. Rep. Adrian Smith has rejected a congressional proposal to raise the age at which a person can buy a high-powered, semi-automatic weapon, instead calling for “real solutions” that don’t infringe on the rights of law-abiding gun owners.

In a “Washington Report” column released Friday, Smith said that while Americans are “understandably outraged and concerned” about gun violence in the wake of mass shootings by 18-year-old gunmen in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, N.Y., he opposes a House proposal to raise to 21 the age at which a person can buy a semi-automatic rifle.

Smith, a Republican who has represented western Nebraska’s 3rd Congressional District since 2007, also said he opposed a proposed “red flag” law that would allow federal judges to seize firearms and ammunition from anyone “on the wrong side of an accusation without due process.” 

‘Bipartisan policies’

“To confront the issue effectively, we must advance bipartisan policies that address the root cause of violence in our communities,” he said. “Certainly, we can reach a consensus to harden school security, expand access to mental health care, promote gun safety and training, and improve sharing of crime preventing information.”

Smith’s Democratic opponent in November, David Else of Overton, did not immediately respond to a phone message left Monday.

But on his Facebook page, Else questioned the need for high-powered, assault-style rifles like the AR-15 style weapons used in the Uvalde and Buffalo shootings.

‘Why not pass the red-flag law?”

“Why not pass the red-flag law? And raise the age from 18 to 21. What the hell does that have to do with the 2nd Amendment?” Else added. 

Smith, in his column, said Democrats had “rushed forward with misguided proposals” without seeking bipartisan solutions that “actually have a chance of passing.”

According to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, 44 states, including Nebraska, allow 18-year-olds to purchase long guns, including semi-automatic rifles. Only six states have raised the purchasing age to 21: California, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Vermont and Washington State.

Higher age for alcohol, cigarettes

Meanwhile, the Giffords Center has said, Americans are not allowed to purchase alcohol or cigarettes until they are 21.

The Giffords Center was founded by former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords, D-Ariz., who was shot and wounded in a January 2011 attack by a gunman who killed six people at a public event. The center maintains that stricter gun laws do save lives.