A bill that would prevent credit-card companies from using a code that could help track firearm and ammunition sales is headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis.
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In an 83-32 vote along party lines Tuesday, the Republican-controlled Florida House backed a measure (SB 214) that House sponsor John Snyder, R-Stuart, described as protecting people who support the Second Amendment from having “their ability to purchase and spend their money freely without fear of reprisal.”
Today, the House passed SB 214, the companion measure of Deputy Majority Leader @Johnfsnyder's HB 221, which prohibits banks from tracking firearm and ammunition purchases and protects consumer privacy rights. Thank you, sir, and congratulations! pic.twitter.com/oWuADqy0R2
— Florida House Majority Office (@FLGOPMajority) May 2, 2023
The issue deals with concerns that credit-card companies could establish a separate “merchant category code” for sales at gun businesses. Similar four-digit codes are already used to separate purchases and collect data from places such as grocery stores, gas stations, restaurants and bookstores. Visa, Mastercard and American Express announced plans to categorize gun-shop sales. But after Republican pushback in several states, the plans have been paused. Democrats argued the bill is a culture-war issue that will hinder efforts to track potential gun violence.
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“These are private corporations that collect the data,” Rep. Hillary Cassel, D-Dania Beach, said. “They send you emails to get you to buy more. And now we’re infringing on private corporations and how they collect this data and how they maintain it.” The Republican-controlled Senate voted 27-11 along almost-straight party lines to approve the bill on March 23.
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