ACT NOW: Iowa 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 individuals who 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 Code. Iowa could be the 8th.

HOUSE FILE 2464, would prohibit these MCCs in Iowa.

HF 2464 passed out of the Iowa House on Tuesday in a 68-27 vote and is now in the state Senate where it could be heard as soon as this week. Contact your state senator today to urge them to SUPPORT House File 2464. 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.