Valley Stream, NY – Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages’ (D-Elmont) bill requiring unique merchant codes for firearm and ammunition purchases has been signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul. The legislation (A9862A/S8479A) will allow financial institutions to monitor and flag suspicious purchasing patterns that pose a potential risk, improving coordination between these institutions and law enforcement, who will be notified more quickly to prevent illicit activities.

In recent mass shootings, including the Aurora, Colorado movie theater shooting and the Las Vegas concert shooting, the perpetrator used credit cards to accrue tens of thousands of dollars in charges to purchase guns, ammunition, and body armor. The financing of mass shootings is possible because of the reckless use of payment card networks that goes undetected because of the generalized merchant codes applied to many firearm and ammunition purchases.

This legislation was signed today as part of a package of gun safety measures passed by the legislature this year. Requiring unique merchant codes for all firearm and ammunition purchases will help prevent future tragedies by making it possible to detect unusual purchases the moment they are made so financial institutions can report suspicious activity to law enforcement promptly. In many of these cases where mass shootings were financed by credit card usage, the shooter made purchases weeks or months in advance. Detecting these purchases early allows law enforcement to intervene more quickly and potentially stop tragedies before they occur.

Assemblywoman Solages said, “This legislation creates a valuable new tool to help stop the proliferation of gun violence in New York. Law enforcement and financial institutions must be able to swiftly identify suspicious purchasing patterns, particularly when it involves firearms or ammunition. Enhancing recognition of these dangerous trends empowers law enforcement to act decisively to prevent future tragedies. I am deeply thankful to Governor Hochul for her leadership on gun safety and to Senator Myrie for his partnership on this critical legislation. This life-saving bill would not have become law without the relentless efforts of gun violence prevention groups, survivors, and victims’ families, whose courage remains a driving force in making our state safer.”

Senator Zellnor Myrie (D-Brooklyn), Senate sponsor of the bill, said, “Banks routinely use data to identify and deter all kinds of illicit activity, but one industry-- the gun industry-- has fought tooth and nail to prevent this kind of risk analysis. By signing this bill into law, New York is establishing a common standard for all industries and ensuring that obviously suspicious patterns of firearm purchases can be detected. I'm grateful to my partner, Assemblymember Michaelle Solages, and to Governor Hochul for continuing our work to put safer streets ahead of the gun industry's profits.”