Kansas House Bill HB2722

Kansas 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/24
• Refer: 2/6/24
• Failed: 4/30/24

Caption

Enacting the second amendment financial privacy act, prohibiting financial institutions from using a firearms code to engage in certain discriminatory conduct and surveilling, reporting or tracking the purchase of firearms and ammunition, authorizing the attorney general to investigate and enforce violations of such act and providing a civil penalty for violations thereof.

Impact

The potential impact of HB 2722 includes a clearer delineation of consumers' rights in the context of financial transactions involving firearms. By prohibiting the tracking, reporting, or discrimination against financial transactions based on the nature of the purchase, the bill serves to enhance the privacy rights of individuals who lawfully engage in the purchase of firearms. Additionally, it reinforces the position that financial institutions should not serve as instruments of surveillance in cooperation with law enforcement when it comes to constitutionally protected activities.

Summary

House Bill 2722, referred to as the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, aims to protect the rights of citizens to purchase firearms and ammunition without facing undue surveillance or discrimination from financial institutions. The bill prohibits banks and payment card networks from using a specific firearms code to engage in discriminatory practices during transactions related to firearms and ammunition. Its provisions assert that individuals should not be tracked or reported when making lawful purchases, thereby upholding their constitutional rights under both state and federal law.

Contention

However, the bill has generated significant contention within both legislative and public discourse, particularly concerning the balance between individual privacy rights and public safety. Critics argue that categorizing firearm purchases as unworthy of scrutiny can impede efforts to prevent illegal activities or terrorism funding, raising concerns about whether this legislation may inadvertently create loopholes that could be exploited. The conversation surrounding this legislation involves broader themes of local control, governmental oversight, and the evolving relationship between financial institutions and civil liberties.