Citibank last month announced new restrictions on the sale of firearms for its business customers, and the company also has a $700 billion contract with the General Services Administration, a federal government agency.
Rep. Todd Rokita, a Republican from Indiana, and 15 other Republican members of Congress are trying to terminate that contract by asking for a reevaluation of the agreement, stating that Citibank has “anti-Second Amendment policies.”
They are asking for the $700 billion “SmartPay 3” credit card contract to be reassessed and reversed.
“This flagrant disregard for American citizens and their God-given Second Amendment rights cannot be tolerated,” Rokita said in a statement. “Those who seek to undermine those God-given rights do not deserve taxpayer dollars and should be denied federal contracts. Congress has sworn to uphold the Constitution, and it is paramount that we stand united for the American people and their right to bear arms.”
“This flagrant attempt to undermine our fundamental rights by caving to radicals should not be endorsed by our federal government. The federal government should instead do business with companies that respect all of our constitutional rights, including the Second Amendment,” the statement added. “GSA should take all necessary steps to review and terminate its contract with Citibank unless they rescind their guidelines, and rebid the SmartPay 3 contract.”
Citibank’s restrictions include activities related to firearms sales, including banning firearm sales to individuals under the age of 21, prohibiting the sale of bump stocks and high-capacity magazines, and requiring completed background checks for all gun sales.
The new restrictions were applied to small business, commercial and institutional clients, as well as credit card partners, whether co-brand or private label.
Credit card purchases are not restricted.
“As we have with other industries that have reputational implications, we created standards based not on ideology, but on established best sales practices, which most of the businesses we work with currently follow. This policy does not impact the ability of Citi customers to use their credit and debit cards for the legal purchase of firearms,” a Citi spokesperson told American Military News.
