New Legislation Would Require Gun Stores to Use a Merchant Category Code, Helping Prevent Gun Violence and Credit Card Fraud

February 14, 2024

After new research from Guns Down America finds that credit card fraud occurred in eight mass shootings, Rep. Frost (FL-10) authors the Identify Gun Stores Act

WASHINGTON — Today, Congressman Maxwell Frost (FL-10) introduced a bill that would prohibit penalties for using the gun store merchant category code (MCC), just days after Guns Down America released a report highlighting the link between credit card abuse and gun crime. MCCs are a financial industry standard that could help banks and credit companies track suspicious gun purchases to prevent acts of gun violence. The Identify Gun Stores Act would ensure gun retailers are held to that same standard and improve oversight of potential fraudulent and criminal activity linked to gun violence.

“The Identify Gun Stores Act put forward by Rep. Frost shows that the era of exceptions for the gun industry is an unfair relic of the past that made our communities vulnerable to gun violence. It’s more than important that lawmakers, banks, and corporations work together to enforce the use of the gun store MCC, a common sense approach that applies to nearly all other businesses except for the gun industry,” said Hudson Munoz, Executive Director of Guns Down America. “Our new report released earlier this week found that dozens of crimes have been committed using credit cards, from gun trafficking to terrorism to mass shootings. An MCC could have helped financial institutions flag these high-risk purchases to law enforcement and help prevent these horrific crimes. We’re glad to support this bill and federal efforts to put an end to gun violence.”

“In a state home to two of the most vile and horrific mass shootings in recent history – Parkland and Pulse – it is shameful that under NRA-bought Republican leadership, Florida is preventing credit card companies from being proactive against gun violence and helping stop shootings before they happen,” said Congressman Maxwell Frost. “The Identify Gun Stores Act is a simple, straightforward effort to help save lives. It’s time we honor the victims of these horrific mass shootings with action, not just with empty thoughts and prayers.”

Today marks the six year anniversary of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting in Parkland, Florida. After the school shooting in Parkland, Citibank and Bank of America said they would no longer finance or advise gun manufacturers. Earlier this week, Mastercard, Visa and American Express confirmed that they would take a lawful approach to implement the MCC for gun and ammunition purchases in states where it is legally required.