Visa, Mastercard and Discover pause plans to track gun sales

Visa, Mastercard and Discover announced they will pause a plan to implement a new merchant category code for the nation's gun retailers.

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)— Visa, Mastercard and Discover announced they will pause a plan to implement a new merchant category code for the nation’s gun retailers.

It comes after political pressure from republican officials.

Some financial companies explored the possibility of tracking gun sale through their payment systems—in the wake of mass shootings.

Advocates argue this would help track suspicious transactions of firearms and ammunition and could help flag potential mass shooter and gun traffickers.

Previously, gun store sales were classified under a general merchandise or sporting goods category.