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One of the most controversial parts of the new legislative package will require all credit card and debit card companies to use special merchant category codes to flag ammunition and firearm transactions. These codes are meant to identify businesses that make most of their sales from guns, ammo, or related accessories—giving law enforcement an easier path to monitor who’s buying what.
Hochul didn’t mince words about the aim. “This gives law enforcement the opportunity to find out exactly who may be stockpiling ammunition. And this is an indicator that something untoward could be happening, so it’s an important data point for us to have,” she said.
What critics see as a form of financial surveillance, Hochul portrays as a “refinement” of how gun store transactions are categorized. But opponents warn this opens the door to profiling lawful gun owners and collecting mass data on personal purchases—all without a warrant or due process.
Under the law, New York-based gun and ammunition retailers must adopt new merchant codes, categorizing their sales in a way that flags them for monitoring by credit card companies. This essentially deputizes private companies to act as informants, keeping tabs on constitutionally protected purchases.
Assembly Member Michaelle Solages praised the legislation, applauding the move as a “bold step” toward using financial tools for gun control. “By requiring the use of merchant category codes for firearm and ammunition purchases, we are equipping financial institutions with a critical tool to help detect suspicious activity before it becomes a tragedy. This is a smart, data-driven approach to public safety, and I’m proud to lead the way with Senator Myrie and dedicated advocates,” Solages stated.
But there’s more.
Another new law forces gun dealers to warn customers about the potential risks of firearm ownership, complete with suicide hotline links and warnings that resemble cigarette packaging. From the risks of domestic disputes to accidental deaths involving children, the law paints gun ownership as a hazard, not a right.
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“By providing consumers with this Surgeon General style warning, the law aims to promote the health and safety of the general public by educating and informing gun owners and potential buyers of the risks the weapons pose,” Hochul’s office said.
Hochul is also pushing for an additional $370 million in taxpayer funds to supercharge these gun control efforts in the upcoming state budget—a move sure to stoke further outrage among conservatives and gun rights groups.
What’s clear is this: New York’s war on guns is no longer just about firearms. It’s about surveillance. It’s about control. And it’s being fueled by a government eager to recruit banks and credit card companies into its crusade.
If you thought your purchases were private—think again. New York is now watching.
