Major credit cards place guns under new merchant category

Local gun shop manager believes gun sales will increase in response

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF) — Major credit cards are adding a new merchant category for firearms retailers, much to the celebration of gun-control advocates.

Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all doing so to help curb mass shootings.

But not everybody is celebrating.

One local gun store manager says his customers feel as if their Second Amendment rights are being violated.

“Our customers at least seem to want to keep the government out of it,” said Chase Sneed, manager of Posey Gun & Pawn. “If they want to buy guns, let them. They’re using their Second Amendment right and they should be allowed to buy guns when they want to and protect their families and their home. I totally agree with them. It’s upsetting.”

Some of Sneed’s customers have said they’ll just simply buy their guns with another card company that doesn’t use the new merchant category.

Sneed also says these actions by the financial industry may lead to even greater gun sales.