Credit Card Companies Will Track Firearm Sales, ‘Major Win For Gun Control Advocates’
Bo Banks
|
Credit card companies will now assign a special code for US firearm purchases.
This move is being dubbed a “major win for gun control advocates,” because it essentially makes it easier for these companies to track who is purchasing guns and the frequency of those transactions.
If purchases seem “suspicious,” law enforcement may even be tipped off. Apparently in an attempt to stop the next mass shooting before it happens.
“Credit card purchases of firearms in the US can now be tracked and purchases deemed suspicious can even be shared with law enforcement,” The Guardian wrote.
“According to a new measure approved by an organization that sets parameters for business transactions,” the outlet added. “The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) voted in favor of creating a merchant code for firearms stores, according to Reuters.”
From the Associated Press: “Payment processor Visa Inc. said Saturday that it plans to start separately categorizing sales at gun shops, a major win for gun control advocates who say it will help better track suspicious surges of gun sales that could be a prelude to a mass shooting.”
“But the decision by Visa, the world’s largest payment processor, will likely provoke the ire of gun rights advocates and gun lobbyists, who have argued that categorizing gun sales would unfairly flag an industry when most sales do not lead to mass shootings,” the AP continued.
“It joins Mastercard and American Express, which also said they plan to move forward with categorizing gun shop sales.”
Credit card companies serve as a middleman between merchants and banks. So a move like this could interfere with the free commerce of these two entities.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, applauding this move, sees no difference between this new special code for guns. As he compared it to the unique codes that are used for various other purchases from airline tickets to groceries.
Adams, along with other Democrats, argue that this measure makes moral and financial sense. And that it ought to be used as a tool to curb gun violence.
“Unfortunately, the credit card companies have failed to support this simple, practical, potentially lifesaving tool. The time has come for them to do so,” said New York City’s comptroller, Brad Lander, recently.
As expected, the National Rifle Association (NRA) sees this whole push as nothing more than a tactic to erode American God-given gun rights.
“The (industry’s) decision to create a firearm specific code is nothing more than a capitulation to anti-gun politicians and activists bent on eroding the rights of law-abiding Americans one transaction at a time,” said NRA spokesperson Lars Dalseide.
Credit card companies like @Visa, @Mastercard, and @AmericanExpress can and should do more to help stop mass shootings.@RepDean and I are urging these companies to step up and help identify suspicious purchases to prevent gun violence.https://t.co/kkqsYxpmzd
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 6, 2022
Support Big League Politics by making a donation today. You can also donate via PayPal, Venmo or donate crypto. Your support helps us take on the powerful and report the truth that the mainstream media wants to silence.
Share: