Criminal Justice (Firearms)

HB 320 prohibits the sale or transfer of semiautomatic rifles to anyone under 21 years old, expanding existing restrictions that previously only applied to children under 18 for other firearms. The bill amends Texas Penal Code Section 46.06 to make violations a state jail felony (up from a misdemeanor) for this specific transfer. It directly affects firearm sellers, dealers, and individuals under 21 attempting to purchase semiautomatic rifles. The law applies only to semiautomatic rifles, not all firearms, and does not change existing provisions for transfers to minors under 18 with parental consent. The bill is currently in the filing stage with no voting record yet.