Explore The NRA Universe Of Websites

APPEARS IN News

Bill Aimed at Ending Operation Choke Point Passes House

Friday, February 5, 2016

Bill Aimed at Ending Operation Choke Point Passes House

On Thursday, a bi-partisan majority of the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 766, the ‘‘Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2015,” sponsored by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO). As we reported last year, this bill targets the abuses of Operation Choke Point (OCP), an Obama administration “enforcement” program that lumped together legal and illegal businesses into a “high risk” category and threatened the banks with intense regulatory scrutiny. The goal of OCP was to deter the banks from forming or continuing relationships with the targeted industries, thereby driving them out of business. Included on this list were firearm and ammunition sellers, many of whom found themselves struggling to find or keep banking relationships as a result of the program.

Rep. Luetkemeyer’s legislation would institute numerous reforms to bring more transparency and accountability to federal oversight of banks, all aimed at preventing the sort of unchecked enforcement discretion and twisting of legislative language at the heart of OCP. 

For example, the bill would require regulators that suggest or order a bank to terminate a customer’s account to put the directive in writing, with reference to any specific laws or regulations the enforcement agency believed were being violated. Moreover, no such reason could be based solely on “reputational risk,” the supposed basis for including firearm and ammunition businesses within the scope of OCP’s “high risk” target list. 

Regulating agencies would also have to submit annual reports to Congress documenting any such requests or orders. Finally, the Act would make important amendments to the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act of 1989, which agencies have cited as authorization for OCP, to clarify the law’s scope so as to conclusively preempt this dubious justification.

When he reintroduced the bill last year, Rep. Luetkemeyer published excerpts of a FDIC whistleblower’s letter, which help substantiate the illegitimate ends of OCP. The individual wrote: 

I am an employee of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). I was proud of my job and the FDIC’s mission before Operation Choke Point. During the past two years, however, we have been told to examine banks much more harshly, if they deal with a class of customers prohibited by Choke Point.

Predictability, the White House is already threatening to veto the legislation if it reaches the president’s desk. As it often does when pushing for policies that provide the Executive Branch with broad discretionary authorities, the administration’s statement invoked terrorism and national security interests. Yet the administration has already overplayed that card with its attempts to disingenuously tie gun control to the Terrorist Watchlist and to portray its political enemies as dangerous “extremists.”

Indeed, if ever there was a strong argument for curbing executive authority and discretion, the Obama administration would be it. Rarely has any U.S. president so bent otherwise legitimate authorities and oversight functions toward purely political and self-serving ends.

The NRA commends Rep. Luetkemeyer for his leadership in addressing this critical issue, as well as Rep. Jeb Hensaring (R-TX), Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, for helping usher the bill through the floor vote without any unfavorable amendments. We also wholeheartedly recommend the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act for favorable consideration in the Senate. 

TRENDING NOW
U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

News  

Second Amendment  

Thursday, May 22, 2025

U.S. House Passes Reconciliation Bill, Removing Suppressors from the National Firearms Act

Earlier today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R.1 the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which included Section 2 of the Hearing Protection Act, completely removing suppressors from the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Gun Law Effective Dates: It’s Not Just What but When that Counts

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Gun Law Effective Dates: It’s Not Just What but When that Counts

The gun owning community is often saddled with a larger responsibility than most in knowing the many laws that govern gun ownership throughout the states.

Intrepid Journalist Tracks Down Truth About “Children” and Firearms, While Public Health Researchers Downplay Inconvenient Realities

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Intrepid Journalist Tracks Down Truth About “Children” and Firearms, While Public Health Researchers Downplay Inconvenient Realities

For decades, gun control advocates and their allies in “public health” have pushed a misleading factoid about children and firearms.

Senate Finance Committee Releases Text of Reconciliation Bill

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Senate Finance Committee Releases Text of Reconciliation Bill

Today, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance released its portion of the Senate version of the Reconciliation Bill. Late last month, the U.S. House passed a version of the Reconciliation Bill which included Section 2 of the ...

Hogg Gone from DNC

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Hogg Gone from DNC

Gun prohibition activist David Hogg’s time in leadership with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) has come to an end.

Gun-Control Window Dressing: Chicago Inspector-General Calls Out Futility of Gun Offender Registry

News  

Monday, June 16, 2025

Gun-Control Window Dressing: Chicago Inspector-General Calls Out Futility of Gun Offender Registry

Fifteen years ago, the City of Chicago adopted a “gun offender registry” ordinance that requires convicted gun offenders to register with the police and have police monitor anyone listed in the registry. 

North Carolina: Permitless Carry Bill Headed to Governor Stein

Wednesday, June 11, 2025

North Carolina: Permitless Carry Bill Headed to Governor Stein

Today, the House of Representatives voted 59-48 to pass Senate Bill 50 (S50), Freedom to Carry NC. The bill now heads to Governor Josh Stein for consideration.

New York: Numerous Anti-Gun Bills Still Moving in Final Days of Session

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

New York: Numerous Anti-Gun Bills Still Moving in Final Days of Session

New York lawmakers are tentatively scheduled to end their 2025 Regular Session this week, which means they are feverishly pushing through hundreds of bills at lightning pace with little or no discussion.  Gun owners are ...

California: Anti-Gun Bills Advance in Legislature Ahead of Deadline

Tuesday, June 10, 2025

California: Anti-Gun Bills Advance in Legislature Ahead of Deadline

Friday June 6 marked the deadline for all bills to pass out of the chamber of origin. Below find an update on notable firearm related bills from this session. Legislation that passed the chamber of ...

Minnesota: Removal of Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Added to Environmental Omnibus Bill

Friday, June 6, 2025

Minnesota: Removal of Shotgun-Only Hunting Zones Added to Environmental Omnibus Bill

This week outside of regular session, the Environment Omnibus bill was agreed upon. This omnibus bill would remove shotgun-only hunting zones in the state. A special session has been scheduled for Monday, June 9th, for the ...

MORE TRENDING +
LESS TRENDING -

More Like This From Around The NRA

NRA ILA

Established in 1975, the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA) is the "lobbying" arm of the National Rifle Association of America. ILA is responsible for preserving the right of all law-abiding individuals in the legislative, political, and legal arenas, to purchase, possess and use firearms for legitimate purposes as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.