Bill barring credit card companies from tracking gun purchases clears Florida Senate

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The Florida Senate passed legislation Thursday by a vote of 27-11 that would fine credit card companies for tracking gun and ammunition purchases.

The bill, SB 214, comes as the International Organization for Standardization had previously declared it would develop a new merchant category code with the express purpose of distinguishing the sale of firearms and ammunition. 

The legislation would prohibit the use of a merchant category code specifically for firearms and ammunition. The bill empowers the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to fine companies up to $10,000 for utilizing the new code, guns and ammunition. 

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, remarked that “Florida is once again leading the way.”

“Private companies don’t get to become self-appointed government agents,” said Burgess. He later called the bill an “intersection of consumer privacy.”

Sen. Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, voted against the bill and expressed concern about its effects on law enforcement’s ability to catch armed criminals.

“Let’s keep it the way it is, where our law enforcement is able to obtain information,” said Torres.

One Democrat, Rep. Darryl Rousin of St. Petersburg, crossed party lines to vote in support of the bill with Republicans.