Should payment networks be barred from flagging gun-store purchases with a special code?

The case for

A firearm-specific code singles out a lawful, constitutionally protected purchase and creates what critics call a de facto registry of gun buyers held by private companies. Financial data can be breached, misused, or turned into watchlists, and coding by store type is a blunt tool that flags ordinary customers rather than criminals. Backers say a gun-store sale should be treated like any other retail transaction.

The case against

A firearm-specific code lets banks spot unusual patterns, such as a rapid buildup of guns and ammunition, and report them to law enforcement, which supporters say could help catch traffickers or prevent mass shootings. They argue the code does not record what was bought, only that a sale occurred at a firearms dealer, and that banning it removes a red flag that already exists for other retail categories.