NEWTOWN, Conn –-(Ammoland.com)- The U.S. House of Representatives last week began examining the controversial Obama Administration program “Operation Choke Point”.
National Shooting Sports Foundation attended three hearings on the topic, two at the Financial Services Committee, and a third at the House Judiciary Committee.
The Department of Justice initiative attempts to pressure banks from doing business with companies and industries the Administration believes are at a higher risk of fraud without showing they are actually violating the law.
Rep. Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) observed that the identified list of potential targets for Operation Choke Point amounts to a “government hit list”.
Listed for targeting are Ponzi schemes, racist materials, pornography, tobacco, and firearms and ammunition sales.
A bill introduced by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-Mo.) attempts to address some Congressional concerns by creating a new safe-harbor for banks and credit unions to promote non-discriminatory access to financial products and services, as long as the company or merchant is licensed, registered as a money services business, or has obtained a legal opinion showing the legality of the business.
National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) will continue to closely watch developments.
About NSSFThe National Shooting Sports Foundation is the trade association for the firearms industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of more than 6,000 manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers. For more information, log on to www.nssf.org.