There was visible surprise when Senate President Joe Negron said the moratorium on AR-15's amendment was “adopted.” AR-15s are pictured on sale in Utah on Feb. 15 | George Frey/Getty Images Senate briefly passes — then removes — moratorium on AR-15 rifle sales

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida Senate broke out into a moment of chaos Saturday after accidentally passing an amendment that would put a moratorium of sales on AR-15 rifles.

It was among many amendments being considered by the full Senate as it works to pass a contentious gun reform bill in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead. Police said the gunman, Nikolas Cruz, who confessed to the murders, used an AR-15 that he had legally purchased.


The Senate is holding a rare Saturday session to try and pass the huge measure by the end of session, which is next Friday.

Most amendments were filed by Democrats — and were quickly defeated by the GOP-controlled chamber.

There was visible surprise when Senate President Joe Negron said the moratorium on AR-15's amendment was “adopted.” Because it was a “voice vote,” it was unclear if the amendment passed until Negron declared it was adopted.

Those on the Senate floor say it was a mistake. Negron thought he heard more vocal support of the amendment than against it.

“The President calls balls and strikes. He thought he heard more senators say yes than no,” said Senate budget chief Rob Bradley in a text message. “When we went to the board, it turned out that he was wrong. There were more senators voting no than yes.”

The amendment was proposed by Senate Democratic Leader Oscar Braynon, who said it was written as a compromise. Democrats want a ban on all military-style semiautomatic rifles. GOP leaders are dead set opposed to that idea.

“The goal here is to find compromise,” Braynon said.

The amendment that was briefly added to the bill would have banned the sales of solely AR-15s for two years while the Florida Department of Law Enforcement studied whether the state should ban AR-15's for public safety, or if putting in place some regulations. The language would not expire until the Legislature acted — either pass or reject — on FDLE’s recommendations.