ACT NOW: Kentucky Second Amendment Privacy Act Headed To Senate

In 2022, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), a nonprofit based in Geneva, Switzerland, announced the creation of a new Merchant Category Code (MCC) for transactions involving firearms and ammunition. Transactions at firearm retailers have historically been coded as sporting goods, specialty retail, durable goods and general merchandise. This new code would specifically indicate that a person is making a purchase from a firearm retail shop.

The potential for credit cards to be used to track those that make purchases from firearm retailers is extremely concerning. If a firearm-specific MCC were to be put into place, any purchase could be flagged as “suspicious” by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and transactions could be denied. Lawful transactions made by law-abiding gun owners could be reported to law enforcement. Gun owner watchlists could be created and shared with the Federal Government, which is especially troubling as the Federal Government, as you are likely aware, is prohibited from keeping a list of gun owners.

Since March 2023, NSSF^® – The Firearm Industry Trade Association – has worked to pass laws in 7 states that ban the implementation of a firearm-specific Merchant Category Codes. Kentucky could be the 8th.

House Bill 357, which was authored by Rep. Derek Lewis and Rep. Michael Meredith, would prohibit these MCCs in Kentucky.

HB 357 passed out of the Kentucky House on Tuesday in a 78-18 vote and will now head to the Senate, so contact your state senator today to urge them to SUPPORT House Bill 357. Find their contact info by clicking this link.

If you have any questions, please contact Chris Lee, NSSF’s Midwest Director of State Affairs, at clee@nssf.org.