Iowa’s pro-sportsmen legislators are working to join seven states to ensure the use of the merchant category codes (MCC) to track firearm and ammunition purchases with credit cards never comes to the Hawkeye State.
Yesterday, Tuesday, Feb. 20, House File 2464 passed the House by a vote of 68 to 27. This important legislation will now be sent to the Senate for further consideration.
Keep an eye on your inbox for updates on when the next take action may be required.
HF 2464 prohibits the assignment of a firearms code in a manner that distinguishes a firearm retailer from other retailers. The bill also prohibits a government entity from knowingly keeping or causing to be kept a record or registry of privately owned firearms or of the owners of privately owned firearms.
In 2022, the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) approved the creation of a new merchant category code (MCC) for firearm retailers to use when their customers use a credit card to purchase firearms and ammunition. At the time big credit card companies like American Express, Mastercard, and Visa paused the implementation of MCCs.
Unfortunately, California, the state that never refuses an opportunity to attack law-abiding sportsmen and gun owners, passed legislation allowing credit purchases of firearms and ammunition to be tracked. The big credit card companies are moving forward to comply with California’s new law. This means every anti-sportsman and anti-gun legislator will be looking for their chance to introduce legislation to track sportsmen and gun owners’ credit card purchases.
It is now more important than ever for sportsmen and gun owners to protect their credit card purchase privacy.
Don’t forget to share this important alert with your family, friends, and fellow sportsmen. Iowa needs everyone to stay actively involved in defending our hunting, fishing, and trapping heritage for present and future generations to enjoy.
About the Sportsmen’s Alliance: The Sportsmen’s Alliance protects and defends America’s wildlife conservation programs and the pursuits – hunting, fishing and trapping – that generate the money to pay for them. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is responsible for public education, legal defense and research. Its mission is accomplished through several distinct programs coordinated to provide the most complete defense possible. Stay connected to Sportsmen’s Alliance: Online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.