An organization that sets standards for business transactions has voted to create a special code for gun stores to use when processing credit and debit card transactions, a move long sought by gun safety advocates who say it will help law enforcement officials spot suspicious purchases. The decision by the group, the International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, is likely to set off a political firestorm in Washington and around the country as well as a debate among banks and companies
A gun store in Austin, Texas, on May 27, 2021. A congressional report has accused gun manufacturers of marketing their weapons to young men as a way to"prove their manliness."
ISO did not respond to a request for comment. But on Friday, Amalgamated Bank, which has helped lead the effort, received a letter, reviewed by The New York Times, confirming the decision.“This approval is an important step towards improving coordination with law enforcement and preventing gun violence,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., one of the lawmakers who have been vocal on the issue.
Virtually every retailing category in the United States has a code that is attached to each credit card transaction — hair salons have one code, for example, while movie theaters have another. But, until now, there was no code for gun stores, often making those transactions indistinguishable within the financial system from those at a retailer that sold fishing rods or tents.
Amalgamated Bank made an application to ISO for the code this spring, arguing that it was necessary to identify credit risk. It had also applied for the code earlier in the year but was rejected.
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