Stafsholt’s Second Amendment Privacy Act Heads To Governor’s Desk

MADISON, WI -- Sen. Rob Stafsholt (R - New Richmond) released the following statement after the Senate and Assembly passed Senate Bill 466, The Wisconsin Second Amendment Privacy Act:  

Senate Bill 466 prohibits any payment card network or its agent from requiring the use of a firearms code in a way that identifies a firearms retailer from general merchandise retailers or sporting goods retailers. It also prohibits them from declining or refusing to process a lawful payment card transaction at a firearms retailer based solely on the assignment or non-assignment of a firearms code. In addition, it requires that the Attorney General investigate alleged violations of these provisions and prohibits governmental entities from intentionally generating, retaining, or managing lists of individuals who own firearms.

“Any attempt to implement credit card tracking codes for firearm retailers poses a serious threat to the privacy and Second Amendment rights of gun owners across our state. This legislation is necessary to protect the privacy and second amendment rights of every Wisconsin citizen. Neither your credit card company or government should be able to track your firearm purchases through hidden purchase codes on your transactions.”

The International Organization for Standards (ISO) sets the international standard for electronic exchange transactions, including Merchant Category Codes (MCCs). In 2022, ISO set an MCC for transactions involving firearms and ammunition. Historically, transactions at firearm retailers have been coded as sporting goods, specialty retail, durable goods, and general merchandise. This new code specifically indicates that a person made a transaction at a firearms dealer, not even accounting for folks that may only be purchasing clothing or camping equipment at that retailer.

“If signed into law, this legislation will protect the privacy rights of lawful purchasers of firearms and ammunition by prohibiting the misuse of payment cards and processing systems. It is imperative that we prevent any type of surveillance, storage or disclosure of these legal transactions. I urge Governor Evers to put aside politics and sign this common sense legislation into law.”