Two dozen attorneys general have written to its CEOs major credit card companies warning them about the legality of implementing a new code that would identify purchases made at gun stores. Led by Tennessee and Montana, the attorneys general explained to the leaders of Visa, MasterCard and American Express that certain Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) that single out gun store transactions may violate state consumer protection laws. FILE – Convention attendees view firearms on display at the Sig Sauer booth at the 2016 National Shooting Sports Foundation’s Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show at the Sands Expo and Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) / Getty Images) “Therefore, we share our concerns and ask that you take immediate action to comply with our consumer protection laws and to respect the constitutional rights of all Americans,” the attorney general wrote. “The new code will not protect public safety constitutional right the unfair firearms market separates law-abiding dealers and consumers.” DEMOCRATS DEMAND ANSWERS AS CREDIT CARD COMPANIES PUSH TO MONITOR GUN PURCHASES If credit card companies start using the special code for gun purchases, attorneys general said they worry it will create an unofficial “gun buyer list” — and could lead to personal information leaked. The state AGs also argue that the code “would only result in vague and misleading information” as it would not be able to distinguish the types of purchases made at a store. “Deliberately tracking this information can only lead to its misuse, whether unintentional or intentional,” they wrote. “Creating and tracking this data only matters if your institutions intend to use that information to take further, harmful action, such as violating consumer privacy, obstructing constitutionally protected markets by selectively restricting the use of your payment systems or otherwise withholding your financial services from targeted ‘unsolicited’ merchants’. Customers wait at a store in Orem, Utah, U.S., Thursday, March 25, 2021. Two mass shootings in a week give Democrats new urgency to pass gun control legislation, but opposition from Senate Republicans remains the biggest obstacle for (Getty Images / Getty Images) Tuesday’s letter follows a letter home Republicans was sent to the same CEOs last week expressing similar concerns. Credit card companies initially resisted the International Organization for Standardization’s plan to create the gun store code, rejecting a similar plan last year, saying they “believe that asking payment networks to act as a moral authority in deciding what legal goods can or cannot can be bought sets a dangerous precedent.” Attorney General of Montana Knudsen blamed the credit card companies on their face for rejecting the plan. “It is extremely disappointing to see credit card companies bow to pressure from international agencies and adopt this measure that will do nothing to improve public safety,” Knudsen said in a statement. “Instead, it invites potential future violations of consumer privacy and further coordination between companies and government agencies to erode the fundamental right of Americans to keep and bear arms.” Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., right, listens as Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, RW.Va., speaks during the Senate Environment and Public Works hearing to consider the nomination of Shailen P. Bhatt , as the Federal Highway Administration administrator for (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib/Fox News) CLICK HERE TO READ MORE ABOUT FOX BUSINESS In a separate letter Thursday, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, RW. Va., asked credit card company CEOs to reconsider their support for the MCC change and urged them to answer several questions if they decide to implement the changes. “Implementation of new trade codes for firearms purchases is an alarming message to legitimate firearms sellers and buyers that their purchases can be tracked, disclosed or even prevented from taking place,” Capito wrote. “This raises serious constitutional concerns and sets a troubling precedent where gun owners can be prevented from freely exercising their constitutional rights due to fear of retaliation or even the threat of invasion of privacy. Visa, Mastercard and American Express have no legal obligation to implement this new MCC and I urge you to change course immediately.”
