Wyoming Bill to Ban Firearms Merchant Code Raises Concerns

The debate over a “merchant code” specific to buying firearms in Wyoming has sparked controversy, with supporters of a bill to ban it arguing that it could hurt small businesses and provide the government and anti-gun groups with data about gun and ammunition purchases.

State Sen. Anthony Bouchard raised concerns about the potential misuse of data tracking, stating that while all purchases are tracked and data is sold, the issue arises when that data is used for nefarious purposes in the gun industry.

Nephi Cole, spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, echoed these concerns, warning that tracking firearms and ammunition sales could unfairly target small gun shops and potentially put them out of business.

However, committee member Rep. Ken Chestek questioned the need for a Wyoming law addressing the merchant code, suggesting that if the government is using data tracking for improper purposes, that should be addressed at the federal level.

Despite the debate, the committee voted to advance Senate File 105 to the House floor, with Chestek casting the sole vote against it.

The bill sponsor, Sen. Dan Laursen, emphasized that the issue is not about credit cards but rather the merchant code assigned to gun purchases. He argued that the code could be used to prompt “suspicious activity reports” with law enforcement agencies, further raising concerns about privacy and potential targeting of gun owners.

Opponents of the bill, such as Bobbie Frank of the GoWest Credit Union Association of Wyoming, acknowledged the usefulness of merchant codes but still supported SF 105 due to the controversial nature of a firearms-specific code.

The debate over the merchant code in Wyoming reflects broader concerns about privacy, data tracking, and the potential impact on small businesses in the gun industry. As the bill moves to the House floor for further consideration, the discussion is likely to continue among lawmakers and stakeholders.