Under fire in Texas: Where else did you expect? at Texas League of the South

The Texas based company CDNN Sport of Abilene, Texas is in the spotlight. It seems that Citi bank is refusing to honor credit card sales to the company. Citi merchant services is claiming that CDNN sells firearms over the internet which they oppose. Citi believes that firearms sales need to be face to face. Citi merchant services is taking on the role of implementing federal policies. Citi merchant claims:

“…..due to the sale of firearms in a non face-to-face environment. Keep in mind that a violation of the Gun Control Act occurs when a gun offered online is sold to an individual in another state; the act prohibits selling a handgun to a resident of another state. Shipping across state lines is also banned, yet guns for sale online reach people across the country. We at Citi Merchant Service are unable to monitor or track adherence to these Gun Control laws.”

The action taken by Citi raises many concerns. The first is the freedom to purchase firearms by credit. The freedom to purchase firearms, and by extension any ‘politically incorrect’ items over the internet is under fire. Anyone who sells products on the internet should be concerned with this action.

There is also a concern as to whether it is up to businesses to implement intrusive federal policies. It is not the business of Citi merchant services to police such transactions. Why don’t they police the charges at strip clubs that may involve the purchase of drugs? Why don’t they scrutinize those kind of transactions. I suppose they also underwrite charges made on gambling, even across state lines into areas where it is not allowed. Did they take stands on those issues? No, Citi merchant services said nothing on those behaviors.

There is also a concern on the Citi side which is can a business choose who they decide to do business with? By extension, can business owners refuse services or goods to those whose political views or practices run contrary to their own? This could be used to refuse services to those involved with abortions, RU-486 and other accursed practices.

There are potential freedoms at stake on all sides in this issue. One thing is clear, which is that federal policies are intrusive. Their very own policies are interfering with interstate commerce. Although they are interfering with commerce, what is the likelihood that the Supremes will hold the empire accountable to its own policies and violations of its own laws?

It is also of interest that most major losses of freedom that occur in the empire are attacks on the laws of Texas. History is filled with the many times the courts of the empire have tramples the rights of its subjects beginning in Texas. It was Texas law that was attacked in Rowe v. Wade, which legalized abortion, Texas laws were under attack in Sweatt v. Painter, which began set asides and affirmative action forced on the States, Texas law was attacked in Texas v. White, which removed States Rights, Texas law was attacked in Lawrence v. Texas, which legalized homosexual behaviors,Texas law was attacked in Johnson v. Texas, which legalized burning the flag. What is it about Texas that attracts attacks from the empire like a lightning rod. Texas has served as the exemplary whipping boy for many of the oppressive decrees of the empire, where they force policies on us that the people would not have chosen themselves. The empire knows that, which is why the courts are used rather than the legislature to carry out their reconstruction policies.

This situation bears watching since many potential freedoms are at stake and precedents are likely to occur in this matter.

Free Texas! Free Dixie!

J Murrah