House GOP Introduces Bill to Block Financial Tracking of Gun and Ammo Purchases

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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Riley M. Moore and 26 colleagues this week introduced the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act to prevent financial institutions from tracking firearm and ammunition sales through unique Merchant Category Codes (MCCs).

The bill aims to stop banks and credit card companies from collecting and potentially misusing data on gun owners.

The legislation bans the use of a specialized MCC for gun and ammo transactions. While financial institutions use MCCs to categorize purchases, critics argue that applying one to firearms could allow banks to compile private data on gun owners.

Congressman Moore pointed out that his home state of West Virginia already passed similar legislation to prevent financial surveillance of lawful firearm purchases.

Several major pro-Second Amendment organizations, including the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Gun Owners of America (GOA), the National Rifle Association (NRA), and the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, have endorsed the bill.

Lawmakers Speak Out Against Financial Surveillance

Congressman Moore emphasized his opposition to financial institutions being used as political tools.

“Any attempt to collect data on Americans simply exercising their God-given rights is wrong, and I won’t stand for it,” Moore said. “We’ve seen how the Biden Administration pressured financial institutions to hand over data on their customers, and the possibility of a private database of gun owners falling into the hands of a future anti-gun administration is unacceptable.”

Congressman Richard Hudson (R-NC), a lead co-sponsor, blasted the effort to track purchases.

“The American people are fed up with gun-grabbing liberals’ attempts to encroach on their Constitutionally protected rights,” Hudson said. “I am proud to join Congressman Moore in introducing legislation to protect the freedom and privacy of law-abiding gun owners like you.”

Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY) stressed the importance of protecting both privacy and gun rights.

“This legislation is about upholding our constitutional freedoms and preventing the misuse of financial data to target individuals exercising their Second Amendment rights,” he said.

Second Amendment Groups Applaud the Legislation

Lawrence G. Keane, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for the NSSF, called out the Biden administration for coercing banks into surveillance.

“The Biden administration proved it was willing to ignore the law and use government pressure to coerce banks to illegally spy on Americans to create government watchlists,” Keane said.

Aidan Johnston, GOA’s Director of Federal Affairs, warned that financial tracking could lead to backdoor gun registration.

“Anti-gunners have tried to weaponize financial institutions to de-bank the firearms industry. The abuse of Merchant Category Codes to track gun owners is just the latest violation of our privacy,” Johnston said.

John Commerford, Executive Director of NRA-ILA, argued that the use of MCCs for firearm transactions is a step toward a national gun registry.

“On behalf of millions of NRA members and gun owners nationwide, we thank Representatives Moore, Hudson, and Barr for protecting our Second Amendment rights and our privacy,” Commerford said.

Bill Gains Strong Support from House Republicans

The bill has broad backing from House Republicans, with 27 lawmakers signing on as original co-sponsors. The legislation aligns with ongoing efforts to prevent financial institutions from acting as enforcers of anti-gun policies.

If passed, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act would ensure that law-abiding gun owners can purchase firearms and ammunition without fear of being tracked or placed on a government watchlist.

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