Senator Bill Hagerty, US Senator for Tennessee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
Senator Bill Hagerty, US Senator for Tennessee | Official U.S. Senate headshot
WASHINGTON—United States Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN) introduced the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act, legislation aimed at safeguarding gun store customers by prohibiting unconstitutional surveillance through Merchant Category Codes (MCCs).
"Merchant category codes should never be used to track and surveil gun store customers," emphasized Senator Hagerty, stressing the importance of protecting civil liberties. He further expressed concerns, stating, "If this alarming overreach isn’t stopped here, radical leftists won’t just target gun owners—they’ll weaponize the financial system against anyone who makes a purchase that doesn’t conform to their agenda."
The Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act underscores Hagerty's dedication to upholding Americans’ constitutional rights and preventing politicized and abusive overreach. The Senator had previously criticized the President and CEO of Amalgamated Bank for using MCC codes to target gun store customers in September 2022.
Additionally, in February, Hagerty scrutinized Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen regarding the Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network's alleged coordination with financial institutions to monitor for "extremist indicators," including lawful transactions at firearm-selling stores.
The full text of the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act can be accessed for further details and insights into the proposed legislation.
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