In a recent development, the Alabama House has passed SB 281, also known as the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, by a vote of 85 to 5 [f8918072]. The bill has been sent to Governor Kay Ivey for consideration. If signed into law, SB 281 would prohibit financial institutions from requiring merchants to use a merchant category code (MCC) or any other indicator to distinguish a firearms retailer from other types of retailers, such as general merchandise or sporting goods retailers. The legislation aims to protect the credit card purchase privacy of sportsmen and gun owners in Alabama [f8918072].
SB 281 goes a step further in safeguarding the rights of sportsmen by granting the Attorney General the authority to investigate alleged violations of the act, enforce the act by bringing civil penalties, and seek restraining orders against individuals or entities that violate the act [f8918072]. The bill's passage in the Alabama House and its potential signing into law by Governor Ivey would make Alabama the latest state to enact credit card privacy legislation for firearms retailers, joining over a dozen other states that have already implemented similar measures [f8918072].
This legislation highlights the ongoing efforts by states to protect the privacy and rights of gun owners. By prohibiting financial institutions from discriminating against firearms retailers and ensuring that credit card purchases remain private, Alabama is taking steps to support the Second Amendment rights of its citizens [f8918072].