American TV personality Duane "Dog the Bounty Hunter" Chapman told Newsmax on Thursday that gun owners should have a mental health card from a doctor "that says you have to qualify to be able to own a gun," and that a person arrested with a gun sans serial number should be punished for five years.
"The Biden administration is trying to pass laws about not possessing guns in parks or not possessing guns at a theater house. That is not going to stop anything," Chapman said during an appearance on "Eric Bolling: The Balance." His comments come days after 10 people were killed at a Buffalo supermarket in a predominantly Black neighborhood by a lone gunman suspect who previously released a racist screed that suggested he had targeted African Americans.
"Just because some people have been shot in a park or at a supermarket to have a law to say you can't have one there didn't work in the first place. Here's my idea after 40 some years of experience. You need a mental health card from a doctor that says you qualify to be able to own a gun," Chapman said.
"You have to have a mental evaluation, believe this or not, to be a psychologist. You have to have a mental evaluation to be a police officer, a fireman. There are so many jobs in America where you have to have a mental evaluation."
Twelve states have laws banning "ghost guns," or homemade weapons that have no serial numbers and are therefore untraceable.
Chapman also suggested the punishment for having a gun should be longer.
"OK, so they're going to buy hot guns without serial numbers? They are going to be punished for five years," he told Newsmax.
A trio of senators on Wednesday introduced legislation that would require residents to acquire a Department of Justice license before purchasing or obtaining a legal firearm.
The bill, heavily opposed by Republicans, would also raise the legal age for obtaining a firearm to 21 years old.
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Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.
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