STATEMENT: AAPI Victory Alliance on Financial Institutions “Coding” of Gun Purchases

WASHINGTON — After decades of gun violence and recent increase in mass shootings, AAPI Victory Alliance released a statement commending the efforts made by major credit card processors to adopt a way of coding specific firearms and ammunition transactions, which has the potential to alert institutions to suspicious activities and could stop potential acts of hate and violence.

AAPI Victory Alliance Executive Director Varun Nikore issued the following statement: 

“In the fight for safer communities, every thoughtful action to prevent gun violence equals lives saved. This seemingly small act of more accurately coding gun and ammunition purchases could alert authorities to suspicious activities, potentially deterring both premeditated and abrupt acts of violence. The impact of this policy is substantial - it has the ability to save American lives, and will likely save Asian American lives as the hate and violence our community reaches continuing record levels. The fact that consumer services groups are now doing more to prevent gun violence than most state legislatures calls to attention the importance of AAPI voters making informed choices in this Midterm Election.”  

The AAPI Victory Alliance acknowledges Guns Down America, the Brady Center, Everytown and Amalgamated Foundation and other organizations long in this fight for more accurate transaction coding.”

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