A Florida Democratic lawmaker is working to make it a crime to sell ammunition to people who have not completed an anger management course.
Legislation filed over the weekend by Democratic state Sen. Audrey Gibson would require a three-day waiting period for the sale of any firearm and make it unlawful to sell ammunition to a person without a certificate of completion from an anger management program.
“It is unlawful to: (a) Sell ammunition to another person who does not present certification that he or she has successfully completed an anger-management program consisting of at least 2 hours of online or face-to-face instruction in anger-management techniques,” the legislation reads in part. “The certification must be renewed every 10 years.”
According to First Coast News, an ABC affiliate in Florida, Gibson was moved to file the bill after a Florida teen was shot and killed in an argument over loud music.
“It’s just to get people to take a pause before they buy any ammunition,” Gibson said, according to First Coast News. “It helps people be introspective and make sure they even know for themselves what are the triggers, what are things maybe that really upset me and how do I respond to that? Do I grab my gun to shoot somebody because I’m upset about something? How much ammo do I need stockpiled in my garage or that spare bedroom in my house?”
Those in violation of Gibson’s proposed bill would be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor. Anyone who violates it two or more times would face a first-degree misdemeanor charge.
The legislation has been met with opposition from not just those in the state but, according to First Coast News, Gibson’s office has also received calls voicing opposition from outside the state of Florida.
“When I first saw it, I thought it had to be a joke,” Florida Carry executive director Sean Caranna said, according to Fox News. “They’re trying to say that anyone who owns a gun or shoots a gun or has ammunition for it needs counseling and obviously has some anger problems.”
Others contend the legislation will not help anything, but slow down business for stores that sell ammunition.
“It’s the stupidest bill I have ever heard. It’s absolutely ridiculous. It’s not going to help anybody. Most people get angry they don’t go out and shoot anybody. It’s common sense,” Paul Rukab, owner of Jacksonville’s St. Nicholas Gun and Sporting Goods store, told First Coast.