Committee approves bill penalizing credit card companies that track gun purchases

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – A Senate committee passed legislation 9-3 that would fine any and all credit card companies for tracking gun and ammunition purchases.

Bill sponsor Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, carried the bill in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

The proposed legislation came after the International Organization for Standardization announced it would be creating a new merchant category code with the specific intent of identifying the sale of firearms and ammunition.

The new code would change the category under which firearm vendors operate from sporting goods to guns and ammunition.

Burgess’s bill would prohibit the use of a merchant category codes, 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. 

Burgess called the bill necessary in order to protect “gun rights and the right to privacy” which he believes are under attack due to the new code. 

“I believe that this MCC would lead to the creation of a backdoor registry in essence potentially having a chilling effect on a constitutional right,” Burgess said. “This is the first MCC that we can find that really delves into the world of constitutional rights.”

Senator Victor Torres, D-Kissimmee, questioned the effect the bill may have on law enforcement’s ability to apprehend criminals with guns. 

“It helped us in law enforcement to see you know, where this person purchased a weapon,” Torres said. 

Burgess responded, saying that the proposed legislation “would not in any way inhibit what law enforcement is presently able to do.” 

Sen. Geraldine Thompson, D-Orlando, explained her opposition to the bill and why she would not be voting for it. 

“I really cannot understand why we would not want to know when people are stockpiling weapons and ammunition if they’re making large purchases of firearms and ammunitions that might help us prevent a mass shooting,” Thompson said.

Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson previously announced he would work with Burgess and Rep. John Snyder, R- Stuart, to fine credit card companies if they track gun purchases. 

Simpson told Florida’s Voice this is a “backdoor way of trying to intimidate gun owners.”