Support for NSSF-Backed FIND Act Spreading

Call to Action: Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination Act introduced in state legislatures in support of Second Amendment.

February 25, 2022 By National Shooting Sports Foundation

State legislatures are proving they are the laboratories of democracy. Bloomberg reported that the Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act, which started as a Texas law, is being introduced and debated for laws in several other states, including Arizona, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and West Virginia.

The FIND Act would prevent corporate entities from profiting from state and local municipal bonds and contracts while at the same time using profits to deny citizens in those states from exercising their Second Amendment rights.

The pending gun legislation could shake up the $4 trillion municipal market, something that’s already happened in Texas.

Here’s the latest:

Kansas: FIND Act to be Heard In Senate Committee

Call Your State Senator Today and Request Support for Senate Bill 482

In an effort to discourage corporate discrimination against the firearm industry, Kansas State Senator Kellie Warren (R—District 11) has introduced SB 482, the NSSF®-backed Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act. The bill would require companies to submit written verification that they do not have policies or practices that discriminate against the lawful firearm industry before they are able to enter into large goods or services contracts with state or local government entities. This legislation is modeled after the FIND Act signed into law last year by Texas Governor Greg Abbott.

Please contact your state senator today and ask that he or she strongly support SB 482. Mention that the state has an interest in ensuring the firearm industry is not maliciously starved of essential services because we are the singular industry necessary for citizens to exercise a constitutionally enshrined right.

It is also inappropriate for state and local governments to compel their taxpayers to fund corporate gun control efforts aimed at diminishing the freedoms of those same taxpayers. Woke companies like Bank of America and PayPal may continue to discriminate against the firearm industry but they should not be able to financially benefit from Kansas taxpayers at the same time.

The biggest Wall Street banks will do all they can to kill this bill so they can continue their radical political activism while still benefiting from millions of dollars taken from the taxpayers. Tell your senator that this is one time to choose Main Street over Wall Street.

You can find your state senator here

Kentucky: HELP Make Sure FIND Act Becomes Law

In recent years, the firearm and ammunition industry has been the target of discrimination by the financial industry including banks, payment processing companies, insurance providers and others. Recently, a bill was introduced in Kentucky to combat these practices. House Bill 175, the Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act would ensure firearm industry members have fair access to financial services in the Bluegrass State. NSSF® thanks Rep. Savannah Maddox, Rep. Mark Hart, Rep. Phillip Pratt, and Rep. Brandon Reed for sponsoring this important legislation.

NSSF needs your assistance to make sure the FIND Act becomes law and there are two ways you can help:

We need real-world examples to show legislators how common financial discrimination against our industry really is in Kentucky. If you have experienced financial discrimination because of your involvement in the firearm industry and would be willing to share your story with legislators via written or in-person testimony, please reach out to Chris Lee, our Midwest Director of Government Relations – State Affairs at clee@nssf.org or (203) 434-4330.

Contact your state representative to ask that they sign on as a co-sponsor to House Bill 175. You can look up the contact information for your state representative by clicking here.

Firearm Industry Protection Legislation Introduced in West Virginia

Contact Your Senator in Support of SB 268

In recent years, the firearm and ammunition industry has been the target of discrimination by the financial services sector including banks, payment processing companies, insurance providers and others. Legislation was recently introduced in West Virginia to combat these practices. Senate Bill 268, would prohibit financial institutions and governmental entities from refusing to provide goods or services, or terminating existing business relationships solely due to a business being involved in the firearm industry. NSSF® thanks Senator Martin for sponsoring this important legislation, and Senators Phillips, Karnes, Stover, and Smith for co-sponsoring.

NSSF needs your assistance to make sure this bill becomes law and there are two ways you can help:

We need real-world examples to show legislators how common financial discrimination against our industry really is in West Virginia. If you have experienced financial discrimination because of your involvement in the firearm industry and would be willing to share your story with legislators via written or in-person testimony, please reach out to Trevor Santos, NSSF’s Southeast Director of Government Relations – State Affairs at tsantos@nssf.org or 202-220-1340x205.

Contact your state senator to ask that he or she sign on as a co-sponsor to SB 268 and support it when it comes up for a vote. Use NSSF’s Legislative Action Center to find out who represents you in the West Virginia Senate (be sure to scroll down to "State or Territory" and find "State Senator")

Missouri Alert: Legislation to Stop Discrimination Against Firearm Industry

Contact Your Senator Today

SB 492, legislation sponsored by Senator Rick Brattin (R-Harrisonville), has been introduced in the Missouri senate in an effort to discourage banks, payment processors, insurers and other businesses from discriminating against members of the firearm and ammunition industry. The legislation prohibits businesses that engage in this discrimination from contracting with any government entity in the Show-Me State. Senator Brattin understands that public monies should not be used to benefit the bottom line of companies actively working to erode the constitutional rights of all Missourians.

NSSF® urges you to contact your state senator and respectfully ask that he or she strongly support SB 492. You can find your senator by clicking here.

Additionally, if you are a firearm business in Missouri that has experienced discrimination by other companies and are willing to tell your story as part of NSSF’s effort to enact SB 492, please contact Darren LaSorte by email at dlasorte@nssf.org.

FIND Act Passes Arizona House Judiciary Committee

HELP NSSF End Financial Discrimination of Our Industry

We’re pleased to report House Bill 2473, otherwise known as the Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act, a bill that would help firearm industry members have fair access to financial services in the Grand Canyon State, passed the Arizona House Judiciary Committee yesterday on a party line vote. NSSF® thanks State Representative Frank Carroll, the 22 co-sponsors in the State House, and the 12 co-sponsors in the State Senate for introducing legislation to ensure the firearm industry receives fair access to financial services.

NSSF still needs your assistance to make sure the FIND Act becomes law!

The bill will be considered on the House floor in the coming weeks, and we need to turn the pressure up. The big Wall Street banks with their fancy latte-sipping lobbyists are doing everything in their power to kill the bill and the legislature needs to hear from you.

Please contact your state representative to ask that they support House Bill 2473. You can look up the contact information for your state representative by clicking here.

As a reminder, for years, NSSF® members engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms and ammunition have experienced discrimination by financial institutions simply because of the type of business they were in. In these cases, their refusal to provide goods and services resulted in a higher cost of doing business and increased prices for consumers who were simply exercising their Second Amendment Rights. Our members have reported facing discrimination from internet search engines, payment processors, social media companies, insurance companies and other service providers not covered by the FDIC.

While the firearm industry respects the right of financial institutions and other service providers to make business decisions based on objective criteria, it is unacceptable to discriminate against businesses simply because they are engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms and ammunition, a heavily regulated activity protected by the Second Amendment.

In an effort to discourage corporate discrimination against the firearm industry, Republican Oklahoma state Representative Kevin West has introduced HB 3144, the NSSF®-supported Firearm Industry Nondiscrimination (FIND) Act. The bill would require companies to submit written verification that they do not have policies or practices that discriminate against the firearm industry before they are able to enter into large goods or services contracts with state or local government entities. This legislation is modeled after the FIND Act passed by the Texas legislature and signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2021.

Please contact your state representative today and ask that he or she strongly support HB 3144. Mention that the state has an interest in ensuring the lawful firearm industry is not maliciously denied essential services because we are the singular industry necessary for their constituents to exercise a constitutionally-enshrined right.

It is also inappropriate for state and local governments to compel their taxpayers to fund corporate gun control efforts aimed at diminishing the freedoms of those same taxpayers. Companies like Bank of America and PayPal can continue to discriminate against the firearm industry but they should not be able to financially benefit from Oklahoma taxpayers at the same time.

You can find your state representative here