Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1181, the Protecting Privacy in Purchases Act.

The Second Amendment is a constitutional right. Americans should not have their lawful purchases singled out simply because they choose to exercise that right.

This bill stops efforts to create a special system for identifying and organizing purchases made at firearm and ammunition retailers.

While its proponents present this as simply an administrative tool, in practice it raises serious concerns about privacy and the unjust treatment of lawful conduct.

Americans are increasingly concerned about how much information is collected, stored, and shared. Those concerns are especially valid when it comes to information being tracked that relates to the exercise of a constitutional freedom. Here is the reality: Tracking the lawful purchase of firearms and ammunition creates a framework for collecting information about law-abiding citizens who have done nothing wrong.

My home State of Florida already prohibits this type of surveillance. Floridians understand something that most Americans agree with: Your bank should process your transaction, not track your activities.

This bill prevents payment networks and financial institutions from requiring special codes for firearms retailers, while preserving existing tools used to combat fraud, protect consumers, maintain cybersecurity, and report suspicious activity.

At its core, this legislation is about privacy, fairness, and the principle that the exercise of constitutional rights should never become the basis for surveillance.

I thank the chairman and the bill's sponsor for their work on this important issue. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1181.

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