The NRA rejects imposing age restrictions on gun purchases, a proposal senators have discussed presenting as a bill following the mass shooting in Florida last week where a 19-year-old gunman opened fire, killing 17 people.
"We need serious proposals to prevent violent criminals and the dangerously mentally ill from acquiring firearms," NRA spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said in a statement.
"Federal Law prohibits adults under the age of 21 from purchasing a handgun from a licensed firearm dealer. Legislative proposals that prevent law-abiding adults aged 18-20 years old from acquiring rifles and shotguns effectively prohibits them for purchasing any firearm, thus depriving them of their constitutional right to self-protection," she added.
Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., on Wednesday said he is working with Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on a bipartisan bill that would raise the minimum purchase age for non-military buyers from 18 to 21, the same age someone has to be to purchase a handgun.
"Under current law, licensed gun dealers cannot sell a handgun to anyone under 21, but they are allowed to sell assault rifles like the AR-15 to anyone over 18. This policy is dangerous and makes absolutely no sense," Feinstein said when she introduced her bill last week. "If you can't buy a handgun or a bottle of beer, you shouldn't be able to buy an AR-15."
Cruz used an AR-15 style weapon to kill 17 people and purchased the gun legally.