Congress Proposes Ban on Special Tracking Codes for Gun Store Purchases
The Senate must act next: Senate consideration, where most legislation needs 60 votes to advance.
221–201
This bill’s path across every version that has carried it.
Reintroduced
Reintroduced from H.R. 7450 (118th), which died when its Congress ended.
H.R. 7450 (118th) →Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Firearms retailers — small gun shops in particular — would benefit from not being singled out with a unique merchant category code. Some gun store owners have worried that distinct codes could lead to extra scrutiny from banks or payment processors, potentially resulting in account closures or higher processing fees. This bill would ensure they are classified alongside general merchandise or sporting goods retailers.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 201 (Roll no. 240).
Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 221 - 201 (Roll no. 240).
The House of Representatives voted to approve this bill. It now goes to the Senate.
On motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 208 - 217 (Roll no. 239).
On Motion to Recommit
On Passage
Rep. Riley M. Moore introduced the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act to prohibit financial institutions from using electronic merchant category codes to trace purchases of firearms and ammunition, citing concerns about the creation of a private database of gun owners.
Florida's Senate Banking and Insurance Committee approved a bill to fine credit card companies for tracking firearm sales, a move supporters say protects privacy but critics argue hinders law enforcement's ability to prevent mass shootings.
Wisconsin Republican lawmakers are pursuing a ban on merchant category codes specific to gun retailers, mirroring efforts in other states to prevent lawful transactions from being flagged as suspicious or reported to law enforcement agencies.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.