It was less than 30 seconds after the news hit the wires regarding the Parkland school attack then the calls for MOAR gun control went out. At the same time the narrative of BLAME that EEVIL GUN!, swung into high gear. Lots of gun control ideas have been batted back and forth. Here’s the latest involving banks. Yes, BANKS.

What if the finance industry — credit card companies like Visa, Mastercard and American Express; credit card processors like First Data; and banks like JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo — were to effectively set new rules for the sales of guns in America?

Collectively, they have more leverage over the gun industry than any lawmaker. And it wouldn’t be hard for them to take a stand.

Yes indeed, that was the dim bulb idea proposed by Andrew Ross Sorkin writing for, you guessed it, the New York Times. You see, since PayPal won’t work with firearms dealers anymore, the credit card companies and banks should follow suit. Never mind that Peter Thiel, one of the founders of PayPal completely disagrees with what PayPal did.

Since banks have now banned credit card use to purchase Bitcoins, they can do the same with gun sales. All they have to do Andrew says is change their terms of service! Easy peasy right?

What could possibly go wrong with this scenario?

Does Operation Choke Point ring any bells?

• T.R. Liberti, owner and operator of Top Gun Firearms Training & Supply in Miami, has felt the sting firsthand. Last month, his local bank, BankUnited N.A., dumped his online business from its service.

• Black Rifle Armory in Henderson, Nevada, had its bank accounts frozen this month as the bank tried to determine whether any of Black Rifle’s online transactions were suspicious.

• In 2012, Bank of America suddenly dropped the 12-year account of McMillan Group International, a gun manufacturer in Phoenix, even though the company had a good credit history, the owner said. Gun parts maker American Spirit Arms in Scottsdale, Arizona, received similar treatment by Bank of America, the country’s largest banking institution.

Those are just FOUR of the multiple examples of banks involvement in the gun business that want totally sideways. Remember, Bank of America said they wouldn’t deny banking services because of the industry the entity is involved with. Yet that is EXACTLY what Andrew is proposing.

Needless to say, quite a few folks see the fallacies in his proposal.

Terrible idea. Why limit it to guns? Ban credit cards to pay for porn. Or for payments to Planned Parenthood. Or fill in the blank divisive issue. Do banks and credit card companies really want to go down this road? https://t.co/YXGwnRuMOH

— Ari Fleischer (@AriFleischer) February 20, 2018

Are we talking about the same banks who nearly took the whole world economy down over their inability to manage their own morgage markets?

— Fake Gimel (@fakegimel) February 20, 2018

An Idea: Banks Could Control Alcohol If Washington Won't
An Idea: Banks Could Control Fake News If Washington Won't
An Idea: Banks Could Control Churches If Washington Won't
An Idea: Banks Could Control Political Ads If Washington Won'thttps://t.co/ptcKN1rce4

— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) February 20, 2018

Ooh, maybe banks could refuse to process payments for certain books that are old, outdated, or just not meant for the average civilian. https://t.co/8zHsO7TAus

— Cam Edwards (@CamEdwards) February 20, 2018

.@VelshiRuhle Asking banks to stop allowing guns sales is like a vegan asking them to stop selling meat. Banks aren’t in the vetting business (was it a handgun or rifle? Assault rifle? Bump stock or no? Did they pass background test?) Then what if they miss one. Liable?

— Feinstein found Grassley’s balls (@SureReality) February 20, 2018

There are so many things wrong with Andrew’s proposal that it could be fisked for days! Andrew also thinks the following will help his cause.

Let’s have the big corporations such as Apple, Amazon, and Starbucks pressure the banking industry to take action?

Ooohhhh! Wait! How about making sure that any gun store is uninsurable? Yeah…that’ll work. SMDH

Andrew wants banks to regulate the industry and essentially shut it down. Did he forget that some banks have been involved in gun giveaways (AFTER passing the extensive background checks?) Remember this bit from Bowling for Columbine?

What about car dealerships that participate in gun giveaways by partnering with a local licensed firearms dealer? Would the banking industry refuse to do business with the auto industry?

Here’s the thing. Andrew’s cute little idea ignores some salient facts regarding the attack at Marjory Stoneman.

1. The Broward County Sheriff was notified multiple times about the shooter.
2. Broward County SO responded to his home 39 times
3. The FBI was notified at least twice and completely dropped the ball. Hell, they didn’t even pick it up!
4. The Sneads ignored warning signs and are now scrambling to cover their ass.
5. The school district tried to do something and finally expelled him earlier this year. I’m still wondering why the Sneads didn’t know this.
6. Based upon what is known right now, ZERO current gun laws were broken.

What else could go wrong? Oh I don’t know, how about driving sales underground? Andrew pays lip service to that concern.

Finally, the real reason why Andrew’s proposal is such a bad idea? Banks would essentially be regulating the 2nd Amendment. For those, including Andrew, who think this is a good idea I would strongly suggest a crash course in Constitution 101.