CFO Jimmy Patronis: Credit Card Companies Tracking Gun Sales is ‘Disturbing’ ‘Corporate Watchlist’
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis issued a statement following recent reports that credit card companies are going to start tracking gun and ammunition sales.
“The second amendment is foundational to our American way of life. The idea that law-abiding Americans would be put on some kind of corporate watchlist is disturbing,” Patronis said.
Major credit card companies such as Visa, Mastercard and American Express have reportedly decided to apply a new sales code to distinguish firearm purchases at U.S. gun stores.
FOX Business reports gun control advocates claim that the merchant code could curb gun violence.
Patronis says the actions by these credit card companies are “part of a larger effort to curtail God-given constitutional rights of Americans.”
“If we come to the legislative session and companies like Visa, Mastercard and American Express are generating these reports to create a chilling effect against the purchase of firearms, then I’ll work with the Legislature to pass a law penalizing businesses who are targeting the right to bear arms,” he said.
The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled on a Texas bill (NetChoice v. Ken Paxton) establishing that major corporations, including banking institutions, do not have a right to limit Americans’ constitutional rights.
“We’ve seen a groundbreaking ruling come out of the Fifth Circuit limiting corporations’ ability to curtail American’s constitutional rights, so we are on solid legal footing to pursue a bill protecting Floridians 2nd Amendment Rights,” Patronis said.
