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Last week, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed SB 281, the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, into law. This new law, supported by the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), safeguards the privacy of Alabama residents buying firearms and ammunition.
With this move, Alabama becomes the 15th state to protect Second Amendment financial privacy. The law prevents financial institutions from assigning a firearm-specific Merchant Category Code (MCC) to purchases. It also stops discrimination against firearm retailers based on these codes.
Additionally, the law forbids keeping any list or registry of private firearm ownership. Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF’s Senior Vice President and General Counsel, praised the law, saying it protects Alabamians from “woke” financial institutions spying on their legal purchases.
Keane emphasized that no American should fear being on a government watchlist for buying firearms legally. The NSSF worked with Alabama legislators to shield lawful purchases from political exploitation.
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The U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) previously admitted to violating citizens’ Fourth Amendment rights. It collected credit card purchase histories without probable cause or warrants, targeting lawful firearm buyers.
Anti-gun columnist Andrew Ross Sorkin and Amalgamated Bank pushed for the firearm-specific MCC. Sorkin admitted this was a step toward creating a national firearm registry, which federal law forbids.
Alabama joins states like Georgia, Tennessee, and Texas in defending financial privacy for Second Amendment rights. More states are considering similar laws, and federal legislation is in the works.
Senator Bill Hagerty introduced the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act in the Senate. Representative Elise Stefanik presented a similar bill in the House. Only California and Colorado require reporting purchases by a firearm-specific MCC.
Alabama’s new law marks a significant step in protecting Second Amendment rights and financial privacy for its citizens.
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God Bless Governor Maw-Maw. She is one of the best Governor’s in America and can be counted upon to uphold the US Constitution. We are lucky to have her.
U.S. Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN)
Wonder what the budget is for this government boondoggle?
symbolic at best since the major financial institutions are based out on ny and have to abide by ny laws!