In committee
Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act
This bill stops credit and debit card networks and payment processors from assigning or requiring special merchant category codes that identify businesses as gun and ammunition sellers. It overrides state and local laws that regulate or mandate firearm-specific payment codes, ensuring gun shops are processed under general retail codes. The U.S. Attorney General is responsible for investigating violations and taking noncompliant card companies to court, while standard fraud and cybersecurity protections remain in place.
People affected—The text does not state or quantify the number of firearms retailers, payment processors, or consumers affected.
Fiscal magnitude—no CBO estimate published
Reach50provisional · pending reviewrigor: heuristic llm
What this bill touches.
Personal data & privacy+25Firearms−30Federal vs. state/local+30Banking/financial rules+35
Who it helps · who it burdens.
Who it helps
- Firearms and ammunition retailersSec. 2(a) protects firearms and ammunition sellers from being required or assigned merchant category codes that specifically identify them as firearms businesses, and Sec. 2(b)(1) gives them the ability to file complaints with the Attorney General.
Who it burdens
- Payment card networksSec. 2(a)(1) prohibits payment card networks from requiring retailers or payment processors to use or assign firearms-specific merchant category codes, and Sec. 2(b) subjects them to federal investigation, 30-day remediation orders, and potential civil injunctions.
- Payment processing entitiesSec. 2(a)(2) bans payment processors and transaction intermediaries from assigning firearms-specific merchant category codes to firearms retailers, and Sec. 2(b) exposes them to Department of Justice investigations and federal court enforcement.
- Department of JusticeSec. 2(b) and Sec. 2(d) require the Attorney General to set up a public complaint system within 90 days, investigate all submitted complaints, enforce compliance through written notices and federal injunctions, and submit an annual report to Congress.
Who opposes it
- State and local regulatory authoritiesSec. 2(c)(1) explicitly preempts and invalidates state and local laws that regulate the assignment, use, or disclosure of firearms-specific merchant category codes.