This article was originally published in Must Read Alaska in conjunction with Representative Cathy Tilton. Read the original article here.
Mike Cronk, Cathy Tilton: We Must Protect Financial Privacy as Well as Gun Rights
In a time when privacy concerns dominate public discourse, the conversation surrounding the tracking of gun and ammunition purchases by financial institutions has become increasingly urgent.
We introduced companion bills, SB 136 and HB 143 respectively, to prohibit such tracking which is not merely a matter of protecting gun owners; it is a broader issue of civil liberties and personal privacy.
At the heart of the matter lies the principle of privacy. Financial institutions have long been entrusted with sensitive personal information. The idea that these institutions could monitor, record, and report on an individual’s legal purchases of firearms and ammunition raises significant legal and ethical questions. It is crucial to consider whether consumers should have the right to engage in legal transactions without being subjected to surveillance or profiling based on their choices. By prohibiting the tracking of these purchases, these bills affirm the importance of personal autonomy and the right to privacy in a constitutional republic.
Moreover, tracking gun and ammunition purchases could set a dangerous precedent. Once the door is opened to monitoring one type of transaction, where does it end? Today, it may be firearms; tomorrow, it could extend to other personal purchases, creating a slippery slope towards broader financial surveillance. The implications are unsettling: a society where individuals are constantly monitored for their purchases could lead to a culture of fear and distrust.
Citizens should not have to worry that their lawful activities might be scrutinized or reported to authorities without just cause.
Legislation that prohibits the tracking of gun and ammo purchases also serves to protect the rights of law-abiding citizens. The vast majority of gun owners are responsible individuals who abide by the law. Subjecting them to tracking merely for exercising their rights can be viewed as an infringement on those rights.
These bills are a necessary step toward safeguarding our privacy and civil liberties. This shared effort is an affirmation of the belief that individuals should have the right to engage in legal activities without being monitored or judged. They are bills similar to those passed in other states and another currently in Congress. SB 136 is in the Senate Labor and
Commerce Committee and the House companion, HB 143, is in the House State Affairs Committee.
Sen. Mike Cronk represents Senate District R in the Alaska State Senate including the communities of Northway, Tok and parts of the Fairbanks North Star Borough. Rep. Cathy Tilton represents House District 26 in the Alaska House of Representatives including the areas of Fairview Loop, Knik-Goose Bay and Settlers Bay in the greater Wasilla area.
