September 12, 2022
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today released the following statement after the International Standards Organization (ISO) voted to approve the creation of a new merchant category code for gun and ammunition sellers on Friday, September 9th.
“Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority — and that is why we are taking every possible step to dam the many rivers leading to the sea of gun violence. We are grateful that the International Standards Organization has heeded our call to create a new merchant category code for firearms and ammunition sales. This is a smart, commonsense measure that will track suspicious gun and ammunition sales — saving lives and making our city safer.”
Credit card companies use a four-digit merchant category code to classify businesses by the types of goods and services sold. Such codes have existed for several types of retailers — but not gun and ammunition sellers. Merchant category codes are set by the International Organization on Standardization. Last month, Amalgamated Bank submitted an application to the ISO to create a merchant category code for gun and ammunition sellers, which was supported by Mayor Adams, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System, Teachers’ Retirement System and Board of Education Retirement System.
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