NSSF Praises South Dakota’s Gov. Larry Rhoden for Protecting Second Amendment Privacy

“I am proud to protect our Second Amendment rights with the signing of this bill,” said Gov. Rhoden in a press release. “South Dakota has seen strong growth of our firearm industry, and this bill will help that continue. I am grateful that both the bankers and the firearm industry came together on this issue.”

Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem, while serving as South Dakota’s governor, signed an executive order in 2023, banning the use of Merchant Category Codes (MCC) for credit card purchases related to firearm transactions. This law now permanently codifies privacy protections for firearm and ammunition purchasers in South Dakota.

The law prohibits credit card processors from using firearm or firearm-related Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) when citizens make lawful retail purchases of firearms, firearm parts or ammunition with credit cards. The law also prohibits government or private entities from keeping any registry of privately-owned firearms or the owners of those firearms created or maintained using a firearm-retailer specific MCC.

“Governor Rhoden is taking a strong stand against ‘woke’ Wall Street banks that seek to intrude on the private financial transaction when South Dakotans exercise their lawful right to buy firearms and ammunition,” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “Gun owners should worry about what’s in their wallets, not who. Financial institutions, especially if they are colluding with government agencies, should not be interfering in the free exercise of Second Amendment rights by law abiding Americans. Gun owners should never have to fear being placed on a secret government watchlist simply for exercise their Constitutionally-protected rights to keep and bear arms.”

South Dakota is the 19^th state to enact this type of legislation joining Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and West Virginia. Several additional states are currently considering similar legislation. Three states – California, Colorado and New York – enacted legislation requiring the use of a firearm retailer-specific MCC, highlighting the necessity for a national standard to protect Second Amendment financial privacy.

Similar legislation, also supported by NSSF, has been introduced in Congress by U.S. Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.V.) in the U.S. House of Representatives as H.R. 1181.

-30-

About NSSF

NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.