Two Florida lawmakers are convinced that background checks for ammunition purchases will save lives and reduce gun crime.
State Rep Dan Daley, a Democrat from Coral Springs, and Senator Laurne Book, a Democrat from Plantation filed their bill this week.
They have emotionally titled the law “Jaime’s Law” after Jaime Guttenberg, a student who was killed in the 2018 Parkland shooting.
The bill has no loopholes for different types of ammo: simply put, if you want to buy ammo in Florida, you’ll have to go through a background check.
Interestingly, Florida law already states that anybody who isn’t legally allowed to buy or possess a firearm cannot buy ammo in the state, either.
So convicted felons, people who have a domestic violence restraining order against them, those legally deemed ‘violent career criminals’ or those who are currently under a Red Flag order cannot purchase ammo anyway.
But these two leftist lawmakers think that this still leaves a large loophole that Jaime’s Law will close. “If someone walks into a bar and orders a beer, a bartender is required by law to ask for their ID.
Why isn’t a vendor required by law to ensure that someone seeking to purchase ammunition is legally allowed to do so?” Daley said in his statement.
The “loophole” they want to close is just this: the rights of law-abiding citizens to buy ammunition without the government’s knowledge or permission.
A similar bill was proposed on the Federal level by Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Her bill would make a Federal law requiring background checks for all ammunition purchases, as well.
In Florida, at least, there are still many gun-friendly legislators. But that might be changing.
In a recent interview, Florida Senate President Bill Galvano, a Republican from Bradenton, said that gun control will be on the table in the 2020 legislative session.
Galvano even said that the Senate—under his leadership—could consider enhanced background checks and expanding Florida’s existing Red Flag law.
Buckle up, folks.
The 2020 legislative session is going to be one bumpy ride.