Nation
Democrat leaders write letter pressuring credit card companies to track gun purchases
The mainstream media is not covering a very dangerous attempt by Democrats to strip Americans of their civil liberties. On September 1, dozens of Democratic lawmakers sent a letter to credit card companies “pressuring the company to start monitoring gun purchases” reports The Washington Examiner. “They essentially want the credit card company to create a special category for gun purchases.”
Senior Democrats such as Senators Elizabeth Warren and Dianne Feinstein spearheaded the letters addressed to the Chief Executive Officers of American Express, Visa and Mastercard credit card companies.
“Banks and credit card companies could help law enforcement preempt some mass shootings by identifying suspicious gun purchases through the implementation of a new MCC,” the lawmakers wrote. “MCCs are four-digit codes maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) that classify merchants by their purpose of business.”
“The creation of a new MCC for gun and ammunition retail stores would be the first step towards facilitating the collection of valuable financial data that could help law enforcement in countering the financing of terrorism efforts,” the letter continues.
“A new MCC code could make it easier for financial institutions to monitor certain types of suspicious activities including straw purchases and unlawful bulk purchases that could be used in the commission of domestic terrorist acts or gun trafficking schemes. Such coordination between financial institutions and law enforcement has been instrumental in efforts across the federal government to identify and prevent illicit activity.”
Credit card companies like @Visa, @Mastercard, and @AmericanExpress can and should do more to help stop mass shootings.@RepDean and I are urging these companies to step up and help identify suspicious purchases to prevent gun violence.https://t.co/kkqsYxpmzd
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) September 6, 2022
Many Twitter users immediately responded, likening the Democrats’ attempted move to fascism:
“Fascism should rightly be called corporatism, as it is the merger of corporate and government power."
⁰— Benito Mussolini (speaking of corporate fascism) https://t.co/Gc7oLLAosS— Jess Corr (@Jessmcorr) September 8, 2022
Ah yes, nothing like pressuring private companies to violate your right to privacy so that the government can violate your 2nd amendment rights. https://t.co/bpV6QcYTML
— Patrick Henry (@PatrickHry1776) September 8, 2022
Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., has declared that he will not seek re-election, becoming the latest in a growing list of lawmakers departing from Congress. McHenry, a close ally of former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, stated that he believes “there is a season for everything,” signaling the end of his tenure in the House. Having served since 2005, McHenry is the 37th member of Congress to announce they won’t seek re-election in 2024.
In a statement, McHenry reflected on the significance of the House of Representatives in the American political landscape, calling it the “center of our American republic.” He acknowledged the concerns about the future of the institution due to multiple departures but expressed confidence that new leaders would emerge and guide the House through its next phase.
The departure of McHenry and others comes against the backdrop of political shifts and challenges within the Republican Party. The GOP has faced setbacks in recent elections, including fallout from the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Internal strife and disagreements, exemplified by the rebellion against McCarthy, have characterized the party’s dynamics. The GOP’s approval rating stands at 30%, with a disapproval rating of 66%, reflecting the challenges and divisions within the party.
As McHenry steps aside, questions loom over the fate of open seats in the upcoming election. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report identifies five open House seats as potential Democrat pickup opportunities, while none are listed for the GOP. The departures raise concerns about the party’s unity and ability to navigate the evolving political landscape.
With a total of 20 departing Democratic legislators and 10 Republicans, the changing composition of Congress adds complexity to the political dynamics leading up to the 2024 elections. As McHenry emphasizes a hopeful view of the House’s future, the evolving political landscape will determine the impact of these departures on the balance of power in Congress.
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