Senate Approves Sullivan Bill to Establish Merchant Codes for Firearms, Combat Gun Violence

Legislation would make it easier to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns

DENVER, CO – Legislation that would combat gun violence by establishing a new code to categorize gun sales and help law enforcement recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns passed the Senate today.

Sponsored by Senator Tom Sullivan, D-Centennial, SB24-066 would require payment card networks like Visa or Mastercard to provide a specific code, known as a merchant code, for businesses that primarily sell firearms and ammunition. Merchant codes would allow banks and credit card companies to recognize dangerous firearm purchasing patterns – like a domestic extremist building up an arsenal – and report them to law enforcement.

“In the weeks before my son Alex was killed in the Aurora Theater shooting, his killer purchased multiple firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition – and nobody batted an eye,” Sullivan said. “Credit cards have been repeatedly used to finance mass shootings, and merchant codes would have allowed the credit card companies to recognize his alarming pattern of behavior and refer it to law enforcement. This bill will give us more tools to protect people, and make it easier to stop illegal firearms-related activity like straw purchases before disaster strikes.”

SB24-066 would be enforced by the Attorney General, and will now head to the House for further consideration. Track the bill’s progress HERE.