Tell VISA to Stop Erratic Gun Purchases

Dear VISA,

December 14, 2019 was the 7-year anniversary of the Sandy Hook tragedy. We believe more can be done by ordinary Americans and corporations to protect our children and loved ones from gun violence.

According to New York Times Andrew Ross Sorkin’s investigation,

  • The Orlando gunman used six credit cards to buy two guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition before he targeted the LGBTQI community by opening fire inside the Pulse nightclub killing 49 people and injuring 53 others.

  • The Aurora gunman used his credit card to help buy more than $11,000 in guns, grenades, a gas mask and other military gear to kill 12 people and injure 70 others (58 from gunfire) in a movie theater.

  • The police found four credit cards on the Las Vegas shooter who had two dozen guns inside the Mandalay Bay Resort when he killed 58 people and wounded 851 (422 by gunfire) at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival.

In the 2016 Corporate Responsibility Report, Visa made a commitment “to operate as an ethical, responsible and sustainable company throughout our operations and supply chain” and “to being a good global citizen through our initiatives to empower consumers, give back to our local communities and respond in times of need”.

We need Visa to lead the efforts to flag and stop erratic gun purchases to help stop mass shootings. Nearly two thirds of the decade’s deadliest shootings were paid for with credit cards. Visa already reports big-ticket transactions with suspected links to fraud, money laundering, terrorism, and other crimes. It’s time for Visa to tackle mass shootings!

If Visa agrees to flag erratic gun purchases, it could help stop shooters before they get anywhere near a school, mall, movie theater, concert venue, store, restaurant, church, or synagogue. 

Thank you!

Sincerely,
Newtown Action Alliance in partnership with Sum of Us