A Democratic Tennessee lawmaker introduced legislation that would impose a “thoughts and prayers” tax on the sale of firearms in the state.

State Rep. Bo Mitchell’s bill would impose a 15% sales tax on firearms sold at retail, with the proceeds going to the Tennessee Department of Education to help hire school counselors.

“Tongue-in-cheek, I made it AR-15 percent,” Mitchell told WKRN. “I call it the ‘Thoughts and Prayers Tax.’ If we’re going to do nothing else in this state, we’re going to put this taxation into a fund to fund K through 12 mental health counselors for our children.”

“If we don’t solve this problem, we’re going to need a lot more mental health counselors in our schools, either for the school shooting or for the children who go home, and the guns are unsecured at home, and they either shoot themselves or their neighbors’ children. It’s either we act and do something, or we’re going to have to start taxing to pay for the other problem it’s causing,” he added.

Mitchell went on to argue that no sale tax on guns would be necessary if the state’s legislature passed red flag laws, a safe storage law and an assault weapons ban. 

Read the full text of Mitchell’s proposed bill below:

Anders Hagstrom is a reporter with Fox News Digital covering national politics and major breaking news events. Send tips to [email protected], or on Twitter: @Hagstrom_Anders.