State Rep. Peter Schmidt, R-Bonduel, voted in favor of legislation ensuring that private firearm transactions are not tracked, and the data is not collected.
“I co-authored this legislation to prevent government and corporate overreach,” Schmidt said. “We have certain rights guaranteed under the United States Constitution, including the right to bear arms, and as the amendment states, that shall not be infringed.”
Assembly Bill 468/Senate Bill 466 prohibits a financial institution, as part of a payment card transaction, from requiring the use of a merchant category code that identifies the merchant as a firearms retailer. The bill also stipulates that the Department of Justice may not maintain a list of firearm purchasers based on information from background checks it performs, and no governmental entity may keep a list of firearm owners. The attorney general is mandated to enforce the prohibitions created in this bill. Similar legislation has passed in other states with bipartisan support.
The bill defines a financial institution as an entity involved in facilitating or processing a payment card transaction, including a bank, acquirer, payment card network, or payment card issuer. The bill defines a firearms code as a merchant category code approved by the International Organization for Standardization specifically for firearms retailers.
Additionally, subject to limited exceptions, a financial institution is prohibited from discriminating against a firearms retailer solely based on the assignment or nonassignment of a firearms code when approving a lawful payment card transaction.
“We enter dangerous territory when government and business unite to squash our constitutional rights.” Schmidt said. “I will fight for everyone’s right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, even if I stand alone.”
Schmidt votes for not tracking private gun transactions
