Florida is following Mississippi in a direct line. We reported recently that Mississippi had signed the act which prohibits tracking gun purchases made with credit cards. A few other states are moving forward as well (see below). Florida was one of these states. Governor DeSantis recently changed that by signing SB 214. Florida to Ban Tracking Gun Purchases via Credit Card Now Although there are still only a few states that have enacted–or are preparing to enact such laws–the movement is gaining momentum. The momentum should force credit card companies not to implement the new merchant code. It may take a greater number of states to make this a reality. The law was passed by the House with a vote of 27 to 11, and then sent to the Senate. On May 2, 2023 it was sent to the Governor’s desk by a 83-32 vote victory in the Senate. Governor DeSantis received the bill on May 12, 2023 and signed it into law. According to the Florida Senate’s website, the law will take effect on July 1, 2020. SB 214 states: “Sales of Firearms and Ammunition. Prohibiting payment settlement entity, merchant acquiring entity, or third-party settlement organizations from assigning or classifying merchants of ammunition or firearms separately from general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. Preventing entities involved in processing payment card transactions to assign or require a merchant to use a certain merchant category code. Authorizing the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) to investigate certain alleged violation and bring administrative action, etc.” Simply stated, credit card companies in Florida are forbidden from implementing the new category code. This will prevent names of citizens from being collected and used for an illegal backdoor gun registry. Florida residents can be assured that their lawful purchases of firearms will remain private. NSSF Reacts to the Signing SB 214 Always at the forefront of the fight for our Second Amendment Rights, the NSSF applauds Florida’s decision. “Governor DeSantis stands up against a woke’ initiative borne out of the efforts of antigun Wall Street Banks and their gun control supporters in the media to utilize lawful private transactions to bring about gun control,” said Lawrence G. Keane NSSF Senior vice president, and general counsel. “No law-abiding American should be subjected to having their name and financial data being added to a government-accessible watchlist simply for exercising their Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. “Governor DeSantis ensures that Floridians will not be held captive by radical antigun agendas that seek to weaponize credit card information in gun owners’ wallets. Personal Defense World will keep you updated on the latest developments in this story. PDW reported on April 21, 2023: We reported recently that the credit card industry has put its merchant category code in pause due to pushback from state legislators. Below this update, you can read more. But the pushback was not just words. Tate Reeves, the Governor of Mississippi, recently signed into law HB 1110, the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act. The law prohibits the use of the new merchant code to track gun purchase via credit card in Mississippi. Mississippi Signs Law Prohibiting Tracking of Gun Sales Via Credit Card Mississippi is one of a few states that have adopted the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act. Florida, Idaho, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas are all on the list. The act is at a different stage in each state but the movement is growing. This, along with the growing number of states adopting Constitutional Carry is a positive sign for law-abiding firearm owners and the Second Amendment. The Mississippi House passed the final version HB 1110 on March 27, 2023 by a vote 115-0. The bill was then sent to the Senate where it was approved by a vote 52-0. After its passage, Governor Tate Reeves enacted the bill on April 14, 2023. It will take effect on January 1, 2020. The law prohibits credit card companies and financial institutions from sharing personal information with customers. This applies to the purchase of firearms, ammo, and other accessories and components. It will also prevent the exploitation of private information. It will also stop activists with political motives from denying services. This is done in three different ways. It prohibits the use of the merchant category code as a way to differentiate firearms retailers from sporting goods or general merchandise retailers. Second, it prohibits the financial institutions from discriminating a firearm retailer on the basis of the use or non-use the code. It also prohibits the disclosure or financial records, unless it is required by law. In addition, the Attorney General is allowed to investigate alleged crimes and take any action that the law allows. The NSSF Applauds Signing Second Amendment Financial Privacy Bill Following its signing, NSSF released a press release applauding Mississippi, and Governor Reeves. “This is a huge victory for the firearms industry and those law abiding Mississippi gun owners who exercise their Second Amendment right lawfully,” said Lawrence G. Keane. Certain ‘woke’ bankers advocated the use of a special Merchant Category Code for purchases made at firearms retailers, putting themselves at risk of creating a “back-door” firearm registry. NSSF opposed this MCC for firearm retailers and we are grateful that Mississippi’s legislators, and Governor Reeves, stood with the firearm industry to protect the privacy and security of financial transactions. PDW reported on March 10, 2023: Once again the Bill of Rights battles gun control, and comes out victorious. Gun control is not popular, no matter how much Democrats, the media, or corporate America try. Credit card companies were not well received when they kowtowed before the gun control lobby in order to track gun sales. Visa and Mastercard were forced to reconsider their positions. Visa and Mastercard will Suspend Tracking of Credit Card Gun Purchases After the decision by credit card processing companies implement the International Organization for Standardization’s new merchant code, a number of bills were introduced in state legislatures. Bloomberg reports that Visa, Mastercard and Discover have suspended the plan. Bloomberg writes that “the payments giants [Visa, Mastercard and Discover Financial Services] are delaying work after a number of bills in state legislators targeted the International Organization for Standardization’s new merchant code.” Visa, too, cited “significant confusion and uncertainty” regarding the MCC in a statement to Bloomberg. Discover also released a press release stating that it will be removing the MCC to “continue alignment and interoperability” with the industry. In other words, the company played around and found out. According to the Daily Wire “nearly two dozen GOP Attorneys General sent a letter in September to Visa, Mastercard and American Express over plans to adopt a new code and track ammo and gun purchases.” State prosecutors warned that tracking could be used by companies to violate Americans’ Second Amendment Rights. The reversal has been celebrated by many. In his celebratory tweet, a Senator highlights two serious issues. US companies are receiving orders from international NGOs, and the financial industry is becoming politicized. It’s about damn time. US companies shouldn’t be taking orders from international non-governmental organizations to target legal industries.
This politicization of the financial sector must end.
https://t.co/wh7VezAH2o– Senator Bill Hagerty (@SenatorHagerty) March 9, 2023 NSSF Responds The NSSF finds encouragement in the pause stating: “The Firearm Industry Trade Association, is encouraged by the announcement from Visa and MasterCard that they will “pause” plans to implement a special Merchant Category Code (MCC) specific to purchases at firearm retailers with their credit cards. This announcement was echoed later by American Express and Discover who had previously announced plans to introduce the special codes. “It is a good thing that the major credit cards companies have acknowledged the dangers of implementing the special MCC when purchasing firearms from a retailer. This is not a complete abandonment of the special codes, but rather an announcement that they will be paused. “NSSF is committed to ensuring that these specific MCCs not be used at all as they have the potential for exploitation of customer privacy and denial of services by politically-motivated activists. These codes were created by Amalgamated Bank, Andrew Ross Sorkin and others to track lawful purchases of ammunition and firearms by law-abiding Americans. “In reality, this is only the first step in isolating those who oppose the lawful ownership of firearms and ammunition, and denying them the right to exercise that right, as these two parties admit,” NSSF will work with state legislators to end this discriminatory practice. PDW reported on February 23, 2023: Last year, we reported that credit cards companies would start tracking gun purchases due to a new ISO codes. The plan was not well-received by the firearms community. Not to mention that 24 Attorneys General were not too happy about it (see below). Unfortunately, the gun lobby is out of control. They believe they are above the Constitution. They plan to start moving forward in April. Discover Credit Card Company to Track Firearm Purchases Discover announced recently that it will begin tracking firearm purchases in April. The ISO, as reported below decides on the classifications of merchants categories used by payment card. In September last year, the organization created a code to be used by gun retailers as a way to try and curb gun violence. This is happening at a time that the current administration has been working overtime to label firearm violence as a public-health crisis. We all know what happens to something when Democrats call it a public-health crisis. According to Reuters “A Discover spokesperson stated that following the publication the story, other payment network companies already decided to implement a new code in April and that Discover was simply following their lead. The Discover spokesperson refused to name the peers. Representatives from Visa, Mastercard and American Express also declined to comment. The companies said last fall that they were working to implement the code, while respecting privacy. Discover will be first to implement the code, which will be available by the end of February. Other credit card companies will likely follow suit, even though no dates have been provided. This, along with California’s bill requiring banks to discriminate against gun manufacturers, is yet another unconstitutional way around the Second Amendment. PDW reported on September 22, 2022: A credit card can be a useful tool or backup for online purchases. For others, however, it’s a necessity. I’ve always preferred to pay cash for any type of firearm or ammo purchase. Some people find it easier to purchase guns or ammunition with a credit card. It seems that this is now a worse idea than before. 24 Attorneys General Warn Credit Card Companies not to Track Gun Purchases. As we mentioned in our original article below, the change in Merchant Category Code amounts to back-door gun controls. 24 Attorneys General will not be cowed. If you are keeping track, this is almost half of the country. They sent a warning to the credit card companies to not implement the new code. The letter was sent to the CEOs at Visa, Mastercard and American Express. In the letter, they state that the new code won’t protect public safety. In reality, it will only target law abiding citizens and their constitutional Second Amendment rights. Not to mention creating false and misleading information.
“First, efforts to monitor and track sales at gun shops would only result vague and misleading information. This categorization does not distinguish between, for example, the purchase of a safe and a firearm. It also creates the possibility for misuse. This data is only relevant if your institution intends to use it for further, harmful actions, such as infringing on consumer privacy or restricting constitutionally protected transactions by selectively restricting your payment systems. They cite press releases from public figures that indicate this was done with the help of various state actors. They have a strong warning for credit card companies. “Social policies should be discussed and decided within our political institutions.” Americans are tired of seeing corporate leverage used to advance political goals that cannot muster basic democratic support. The Second Amendment is a fundamental right, but it’s also a fundamental American value. Our financial institutions should stop lending their market power to those who wish to attack that value. “Be advised that we will marshal the full scope of our lawful authority to protect our citizens and consumers from unlawful attempts to undermine their constitutional rights. Please keep that in mind as you consider whether to proceed with adopting and implementing this Merchant Category Code.” The letter was signed by the following Attorneys General: Jonathan Skrmetti (TN) Austin Knudsen (MT) Steve Marshall (AL) Daniel Cameron (KY) Treg R. Taylor (AK) Jeff Landry (LA) Mark Brnovich (AZ) Lynn Fitch (MS) Leslie Rutledge (AR) Eric Schmitt (MO) Ashley Moody (FL) Douglas J. Peterson (NE) Chris Carr (GA) John Formella (NH) Todd Rokita (IN) Dave Yost (OH) Derek Schmidt (KS) John M. O’Conner (OK) Jason Miyares (VA) Alan Wilson (SC) Bridget Hill (WY) Ken Paxton (TX) Patrick Morrisey (WV) Sean Reyes (UT) On September 13, 2022, PDW reported: Credit Card Companies Help Democrats track Gun Purchases The next time you head off to your local gun shop or sporting goods store to pick up the latest hotness, you might want to bring your cash. Although Mastercard and American Express have already pledged fealty to the gun control crowd, Visa was the holdout–until now. Recently Visa caved under pressure from Democrats to help them flag gun and ammo purchases. Up until now, guns and ammo sales showed up in broader categories like general merchandise or sporting goods. However, the International Organization for Standardization voted to create a new merchant category code for firearm stores. They are selling it as a means to track suspicious sales. According to Reuters, “In a statement, Amalgamated Chief Executive Priscilla Sims Brown said the codes will allow financial institutions to use new tools to detect and report suspicious activity associated with gun trafficking and mass shootings, without impeding legal gun sales.” Although this seems on the up and up, like everything from the gun control lobby, you have to dig deeper. “Today’s announcement is a critical first step towards giving banks and credit card companies the tools they need to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing trends – like a domestic extremist building up an arsenal — and report them to law enforcement,” said John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety. To clarify, this comes around the same time the President labeled Republicans “fascists” and a “threat to democracy.” Not to mention leaked documents from the FBI and DHS labeling Second Amendment supporters as “Domestic Extremists.” They can say it’s about curbing gun violence all they want. But it’s not hard to see where all of this is going when the pieces start to come together. Coming Through the Back Door As Democrats and the gun control lobby try to convince us that a majority of Americans want gun control, facts prove otherwise. But they know this, and that is why they keep jimmying the lock on the back door. Everything from treating gun violence as a “public health crisis” to strongarming shipping companies to stop shipping firearm-related products. And now, tracking firearm-related purchases via credit card companies. They know that gun control is unpopular, so they’re looking for any avenue that doesn’t require a vote. But they also know that people see what they are doing, so a little gaslighting is in order. As in the case of New York Attorney General Letitia James, who tweeted a nonsensical false equivalency: These credit card companies must now take the next step and flag suspicious transactions on gun and ammunition sales like they do for fraud and money laundering.
By working together and using the tools at our disposal, we will help protect our communities and save lives.– NY AG James (@NewYorkStateAG) September 9, 2022 Someone should remind her that fraud and money laundering are illegal at any and every level. However, firearm ownership is not–despite their best efforts. The reality is that they hate the Second Amendment and are not even trying to hide it anymore. Remember this in November. There is no level they will not stoop to separate you from your God-given right to self-defense. I have always been an advocate for taking cash to the gun store. But now more than ever, it is important to leave the credit card at home. I wouldn’t even use a debit card. It’s none of their business when you legally purchase firearm-related products. That is your right as an American citizen. There are a lot of firearms and firearm-related products sold in the U.S. every year. And if everyone stopped using a credit card for those purchases (or at all), it would hurt them where it counts. Corporations need to learn to stick to business and stay out of politics. There is nothing in it for them but loss. Keep Reading Didn’t find what you were looking for? Search The post UPDATE: Florida Signs Law to Prohibit Tracking Gun Sales Via Credit Card appeared first on Personal Defense World.
