Two GOP governors signed legislation that prohibit credit card companies from tracking gun sales.

“Indiana and Utah join seven other states in passing laws banning the use of codes to track firearms and ammunition sales,” The Epoch Times writes.

“On March 13, Indiana Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb approved HB 1084 and Utah Republican Gov. Spencer Cox approved HB 406. Both measures prohibit the use of a merchant category code (MCC) to track the purchase of firearms and ammunition,” the outlet wrote.

The Epoch Times reports:

MCCs are four-digit numbers established by the Switzerland-based International Organization of Standardization (IOS) that identify a type of business and the kind of goods or services it provides. The codes are assigned to businesses by credit card companies and can affect the fees a card user is charged for credit card purchases.

The firearms and ammunition-specific MCC (5723) was created by the IOS on Sept. 9, 2022, in response to a petition from New York-based Amalgamated Bank, which says it supports “hundreds of progressive political organizations, campaigns, and candidates.”

Amalgamated Bank President and CEO Priscilla Sims Brown said, “We all have to do our part to stop gun violence, and it sometimes starts with illegal purchases of guns and ammunition.”

“The new code will allow us to fully comply with our duty to report suspicious activity and illegal gun sales to authorities without blocking or impeding legal gun sales,” she said.

West Virginia, Idaho, Mississippi, North Dakota, Florida, Montana, and Texas reportedly have also drafted legislation to block the MCC push.

From PR Newswire:

The Firearm Industry Trade Association, applauds Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb for signing House Bill 1084 into law, the NSSF-supported Second Amendment Privacy Act. The law will bar the use of a firearm-retailer specific Merchant Category Code (MCC) for banks, credit card companies or financial service providers to track the lawful sale of firearms and ammunition.

NSSF worked closely with legislators in Indiana to introduce legislation that would protect private and legal purchases from exploitation. HB 1084 is designed to protect the privacy of lawful and private firearm and ammunition purchases from being abused for political purposes by corporate financial service providers and unlawful government search and seizure of legal and private financial transactions.

“Corporate banks and the federal government have already proven they will run roughshod over Second Amendment and Privacy rights. The need to safeguard private and legal purchases of firearms and ammunition by law-abiding citizens has never been greater,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President & General Counsel.

“NSSF thanks Governor Holcomb for his leadership in signing this important legislation into law that will protect the rights of the citizens in Indiana. No American should fear being placed on a government watchlist simply for exercising their Constitutionally-protected rights to keep and bear arms,” Keane added.

Also from PR Newswire:

The Firearm Industry Trade Association, applauds Utah Gov. Spencer Cox for signing House Bill 406 into law, NSSF-supported legislation that will bar the use of a firearm-retailer specific Merchant Category Code (MCC) for banks, credit card companies or financial service providers to track the lawful sale of firearms and ammunition.

NSSF worked closely with legislators in Utah to introduce legislation that would protect private and legal purchases from exploitation. HB 406 is designed to protect the privacy of lawful and private firearm and ammunition purchases from being abused for political purposes by corporate financial service providers and unlawful government search and seizure of legal and private financial transactions.

“Several other states are considering similar legislation. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) introduced H.R. 7450, the NSSF-supported Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. California’s Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law requiring the use of a firearm-retailer specific MCC and Colorado is considering similar legislation,” both press releases stated.

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