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Primary Sponsor

Last Action

Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate2025-04-30

Vote Breakdown

Plain Language Summary

This bill prohibits payment card networks (like Visa and Mastercard) from using special merchant codes that identify firearms purchases or merchants, and from maintaining records of North Carolina residents who own firearms. The bill allows the Attorney General to enforce violations with civil penalties up to $5,000, and permits affected merchants, customers, and firearm owners to sue for damages up to $10,000 per violation.

Arguments in Favor

• •Supporters argue this bill protects Second Amendment rights by preventing payment card companies from tracking firearm purchases, which they contend creates a chilling effect on lawful gun ownership.
• •They maintain that firearm purchases are legal commerce and should not be subject to separate surveillance or discrimination by payment processors, similar to how other legal purchases are not specially coded or tracked.

Arguments Against

• •Opponents argue that payment card networks use merchant category codes for legitimate business purposes like fraud prevention, compliance with financial regulations, and data analysis.
• •They contend the bill may conflict with federal banking regulations, could impose significant compliance costs on payment processors, and might interfere with anti-money laundering and Know Your Customer requirements that financial institutions are legally required to maintain.