• Commissioner Wilton Simpson, Senator Danny Burgess, and Representative John Snyder announced proposed legislation to prohibit the collection of Floridians’ financial data from firearm and ammunition
• The move comes after the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) created a new Merchant Category Code designed to identify sales at firearm and ammunition retailers
• The trio made the announcement at Lawmen’s & and Shooters’ Supply location at the Knight’s Armament facility in Titusville, Florida
• The bill is labeled as a “first-in-the-nation” policy

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is championing new legislation that would safeguard Floridians’ financial data when purchasing firearms and ammunition.

Speaking at a press conference in Titusville on Tuesday, Simpson, along with Senator Danny Burgess, and Representative John Snyder, rolled out a measure that would prohibit the collection of Floridians’ financial data from firearm and ammunition purchases.

Called the “Florida Arms and Ammo Act,” the bill is aimed at prohibiting financial institutions from collecting and monitoring information on Floridians’ firearm and ammunition purchases.

“We are all blessed to live in the free state of Florida where our Second Amendment rights are valued and protected, but Democrats in Washington continue to try to chip away at these rights – and we must stay vigilant,” said Simpson. “The ‘Florida Arms and Ammo Act’ draws a line in the sand and tells multi-national progressive financial institutions, and their allies in Washington, that they cannot covertly create a backdoor firearm registry of Floridians – or else.”

The announcement comes after Visa and other credit card companies Visa applied a new merchant code to gun shop sales. The new Merchant Category Code allows them to identify sales at firearm and ammunition retailers.

The Republican trio lambasted the move, which they argue creates a quasi-registry of Floridians who have legally purchased guns or ammunition.

“This is the United States of America. You don’t get penalized for exercising a Constitutional right. The Second Amendment is nonnegotiable, and here in Florida, we are going to fight to protect the rights of Floridians,” added Burgess. “I am grateful for Commissioner Simpson’s leadership and look forward to working with Rep. Snyder to send this important legislation to Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk this year.”

The legislation not only prohibits the code, but also attaches a fine up to $10,000 for credit card companies that continue to track gun and ammunition sales.

“Gun owners will not be targeted by financial institutions in the free state of Florida,” said Snyder. “I am proud to stand with Commissioner Simpson and Senator Burgess to prevent the creation of a comprehensive database of law-abiding Floridians.”

Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey joined the three GOP leaders for today’s announcement, applauding Simpson and company for protecting Floridians and the Second Amendment.

“I want to personally thank Commissioner Simpson, Senator Burgess, and Representative Snyder for proposing this incredible bill to ensure that Florida remains free,” said Ivey. “We have a responsibility to make sure our citizens are able to exercise their God given rights and can rest easy knowing that our 2nd Amendment is being protected as well as Florida’s Freedom Loving Citizens!”