There's Really Only One Reason for This

Credit card companies more closely tracking gun, ammo sales after push by Dem lawmakers

What to think of politicians and government agencies who pressure corporations to do the things they lack the political support necessary to do themselves?

The federal government is prohibited by law from creating a firearm registry. Yes, you must pass a background check to purchase a gun from a licensed dealer. Beyond the record that you applied for the check, the feds aren't supposed to keep any more data about your purchase...not even whether or not you actually bought anything. Enter Sen. Warren and some other Democrats who really don't like that law and have been trying to find a way around it for some time. The latest tactic has been to badger credit card companies to track firearm purchases, creating a de-facto (at least partial) registry from which the government can presumably subpoena data when they feel the need. And now we learn that the card companies have caved. Warren, et al. say it will help identify possible mass-shooters. How? Are the card companies being instructed to watch for suspicious purchases? Is that their job? Or will the federal government be peeking in to the purchase records? There are still a lot of questions about how this will work but it's not a good look for politicians to pressure businesses to help them get around laws they don't like.

"Despite these moves by the three companies, it will ultimately be up to banks to determine whether or not they will allow gun shop sales on their issued cards."

That final line of this story begs an interesting question: Will the issuing banks soon find themselves under pressure to restrict or reject firearm purchases? Well, you'll recall they were put under pressure not long ago to limit the business they do with gun manufacturers. Which they eventually did. So I'm going with "yes."