Fedorchak backs legislation protecting gun owners from financial surveillance

Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Julie Fedorchak (R-ND) today applauded House passage of the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, legislation she cosponsored to protect the privacy of law-abiding gun owners and prevent financial institutions from tracking lawful firearms purchases.

"Law-abiding Americans should not have their financial transactions monitored simply because they choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights," Fedorchak said. "No one wants a backdoor registry of gun owners created by credit card companies and financial institutions. I was proud to cosponsor this legislation to protect Americans' privacy, prevent discrimination against firearms retailers, and reinforce the constitutional freedoms that millions of Americans cherish."

The legislation prohibits payment card companies and financial institutions from requiring firearm retailers to use special merchant category codes that identify or track firearm and ammunition purchases. It also prevents entities involved in payment processing from assigning codes designed specifically to distinguish firearms retailers from other businesses.

Background:

• Prohibits payment card networks from requiring firearm retailers to use a merchant category code used only or primarily for firearms retailers.
  
• Prohibits payment processors and other covered entities from assigning firearm-specific merchant category codes.
  
• Authorizes enforcement by the Attorney General and establishes a process for reporting violations.
  
• Preserves existing fraud prevention, anti-money laundering, and transaction security protections.
  
• Preempts conflicting state and local laws regulating firearm-specific merchant category codes.