Protecting Hunters and Gun Owners from Overreach

In recent months, a troubling movement has gained momentum—one that threatens the very foundation of our Second Amendment rights. Under the guise of “public safety”, corporate financial institutions and anti-gun politicians have collaborated to track lawful gun purchases through intrusive new systems. At Fortress Firearms Training in Fountain Inn, SC, we believe this erosion of privacy is not only unacceptable but a direct attack on law-abiding gun owners and hunters.

The Threat of Gun Purchase Tracking Codes

At the heart of the issue is the push to implement gun-specific Merchant Category Codes (MCCs). Traditionally, MCCs have been used to categorize basic retail transactions—restaurants, gas stations, clothing stores, etc. But banks and credit card companies, under pressure from progressive activists and left-leaning policymakers, are being encouraged to isolate firearms and ammunition purchases into their own special category for surveillance.

Supporters of these MCCs argue they’ll help identify suspicious activity or potential mass shooters. But we know better. These codes don’t differentiate between a parent buying ammo for a weekend hunt with their son and a criminal with nefarious intent. What they do enable, however, is the potential for:

• Tracking purchases of lawful gun owners
• Creating unofficial registries of firearm buyers
• Subjective scrutiny from financial institutions
• Unjustified denial of service or account closures

A Dangerous Precedent for Privacy

Here in South Carolina, and especially at Fortress Firearms Training, we cherish our hunting traditions and deeply respect our constitutional liberties. Using financial tools to track gun purchases sets a dangerous precedent. Today it’s rifles and ammo—tomorrow it could be compound bows or tactical gear. The slope is slippery, and those looking to control gun ownership know it.

Fighting gun purchase tracking to protect hunters’ privacy rights is more than a policy debate—it’s a battle for the personal freedoms that define this great nation. According to reports published by the NRA Hunters’ Leadership Forum, these MCCs are not only unnecessary but have already raised alarm among privacy advocates and Second Amendment supporters alike.

Ramifications for Everyday Gun Owners

This kind of surveillance is not targeted at criminals. The very people it affects are:

• Sportsmen buying supplies for deer season
• Single mothers taking personal defense courses
• Veterans building a home defense system
• First-time buyers adhering to federal laws and background checks

These are the responsible citizens being flagged—not the unlawful. MCC tracking does nothing to increase safety but instead undermines privacy and injects political pressure into the purchase of legal goods.

Training with firearms is about skill, responsibility, and preparedness. Fortress Firearms Training offers classes designed for legal, safe, and confident ownership. Tracking legal purchases undermines that spirit of positive education.

The Failed Justification Behind MCCs

Major credit card companies like Mastercard and Visa initially agreed to develop and implement the code, caving to pressure from progressives like Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey. But overwhelming backlash from conservatives, hunters, and common-sense Americans like you forced them to pause rollouts in several states.

It’s not a coincidence. Thousands expressed fury at the idea of being watched for buying something entirely legal. Lawmakers in pro-Second Amendment states moved promptly to block these proposals, citing unnecessary interference in lawful commerce and violations of gun owners’ rights. Their voices made a difference—but the fight is far from over.

How South Carolina and Constituents Are Responding

Fortunately, many lawmakers and citizens are taking steps to stand against this intrusion. In fact, several states including Florida, Mississippi, and Texas have already passed or are considering laws to make these codes illegal within their state economies. Fortress Firearms Training stands with these efforts as they reflect not just support for gun ownership, but a defense of liberty itself.

South Carolina is a stronghold of personal freedom, and it’s time we add our voices to fight this overreach. We encourage voters, shooters, and sportsmen alike to pressure their representatives and demand legislation that protects lawful transactions and punishes data-based discrimination.

Ways You Can Take Action

As American citizens and South Carolinians, there are things we can actively do to protect our rights:

• Contact your state and federal lawmakers and demand they outlaw gun-specific MCCs
• Support businesses and banks that refuse to participate in firearm discrimination
• Educate others—especially new gun owners—on their privacy rights and purchase protections
• Receive certified training from institutions like Fortress Firearms Training in Fountain Inn, SC to build a community of responsible gun owners

Why Fortress Firearms Training Supports This Fight

Every week, we work with law-abiding citizens who are taking responsibility for their safety and skill. These aren’t reckless individuals—they’re fathers, mothers, military veterans, and future first responders. Tracking and discriminating against them is a disgrace to the freedoms our veterans fought for and a stain on our constitutional republic.

Fighting gun purchase tracking to protect hunters’ privacy rights is not political paranoia—it’s common-sense vigilance. Fortress Firearms Training believes strongly in arming our community with both education and awareness. When political interests and corporate giants band together to limit our freedoms, we must respond with resolve and action.

Final Thoughts: Defend Privacy, Defend Freedom

Today it’s gun purchases; tomorrow it could be religious donations, political contributions, or book purchases. Financial surveillance rooted in ideological bias is a threat to every American’s freedom—not just gun owners.

We stand opposed to deceptive measures that claim to enhance safety but are, in reality, a backdoor into regulating and restricting rights. Privacy matters. Liberty matters. Your rights matter.

If you’re a responsible gun owner, hunter, or simply someone who values their freedom, now is the time to speak out, train up, and prepare for the next push against your rights. Let Fortress Firearms Training in Fountain Inn, SC be your partner in secure, responsible gun ownership—because freedom, once lost, is hard to reclaim.