Arizona Gov. Hobbs Vetoes Legislation Protecting 2nd Amendment Rights

Which is worse? Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham of New Mexico or Governor Katie Hobbs of Arizona?

As far as I am concerned, they are both Democrat birds of a radical leftist feather.

Hobbs recently vetoed a bill to protect the privacy of gun buyers from credit card companies. This has a history.

The Biden Administration "encouraged the credit card companies to create a new merchant category code to encourage a reduction in the purchase of firearms and ammunition." The bill in Arizona would have prevented this practice.

According to KAWC:

PHOENIX -- Gov. Katie Hobbs has vetoed legislation that supporters said would protect the Second Amendment rights of Arizonans by limiting the kind of information that credit card companies can collect, saying it would impair legitimate police work.

The proposal by Sen. Wendy Rogers addresses the fact that companies that process credit and debit card transactions uses "merchant codes'' to show the kind of retailer who made the sale. That's the process that allows credit card users when they get their bills to identify that a sale was made at a department store, a supermarket, a fast food restaurant or at a health care provider.

Where the Flagstaff Republican said that can lead to problems is when these companies create and use a special code to identify transactions made at a firearms retailer versus, say, listed as they can be now as sales occurring at a sporting goods store.

"If you purchase a firearm, they can track you,'' Rogers told colleagues. "So this bill seeks to avert that.''

To read more, go here. 

Rising Credit Card Usage Giving Headaches To Japan's Merchants

Above, Shibuya Crossing in Shibuya's shopping district. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is generally known as a cash-only country. Credit cards have historically been rarely used.

However, since there is now a tourism boom of foreigners to Japan, credit card usage has been rising. Along with that, they come with a few headaches for merchants.

During my eight trips to Japan, I have never used a credit card. I strictly used cash obtained from the foreign exchange window at Narita Airport.

Nikkei Asia reported:

TOKYO -- As international visitors flock to Japan, their shopping and dining have put such a strain on credit card companies here that some are considering charging higher fees for foreign-issued cards.

When a foreign-issued credit card is used in Japan, the Japanese card company that processes transactions for the merchant must pay fees to both the overseas issuer and the international brand holder, such as Visa or MasterCard.

These payments can outweigh the merchant fees they collect in Japan, leaving losses that are expected to top 30 billion yen ($205 million) this year, about 50% more than in 2023.

Seven out of eight major Japanese credit card companies surveyed by Nikkei say their losses have grown from last year. Of these, six said they were considering or already had begun applying different fees to overseas cards.

To read more, go here. 

Macy's, Retailers Charging Over 35% Interest On Credit Cards

It's a good thing that I've paid off my Macy's credit card. They and other retailers are hiking their credit card interest rates to around 35%. Ouch!

According to CBS 8: 

SAN DIEGO — Interest rates on retail credit cards are on the rise, and the numbers may surprise you.

Macy’s just sent letters to its card users announcing the interest rate on their Macy's card is jumping to 34.49%. Industry experts told CBS 8 the increase is part of a nationwide trend.

“I mean, i follow this so closely that I'm not shocked, but on the face of it, yeah, that's a really high interest rate," said Ted Rossman, a senior industry analyst at Bankrate.

Rossman says retail stores already have the highest APRs, and those rates have been climbing steadily mirroring what the Feds are doing. 

To read more, go here. 

Tracking Of California Credit Card Gun Purchases

Above, the Remington 870 shotgun I bought last year was a cash purchase. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

There's a very big reason why I and many other gun owners purchase firearms by cash only. Some states are allowing credit card companies to code firearm and ammunition purchases with a code to track them. This amounts to a registry of firearms and firearm owners.

Other states have passed laws outlawing this practice.

California has passed a new law allowing this and it is going to effect.

The Truth About Guns posted:

California gun owners have long been besieged by a lengthy list of unjust, unconstitutional firearm laws that make practicing their Second Amendment right more difficult. And a new law that just took effect is going to make freedom even more scarce in The Golden State.

The new law, passed by the legislature last year and signed by anti-gun Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom, required credit card networks to make a new firearm-specific Merchant Category Code (MCC) available to banks and other financial institutions by Monday.

At issue is a special MCC for gun and ammunition purchases adopted last year by the International Organization for Standardization. MCCs are used by payment processors (like Visa and Mastercard) and other financial services companies to categorize transactions.

To read more, go here. 

National Park Service Sued Over Cashless Policies

Above, the South Entrance gate to Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What part of the U.S. dollar's being "legal tender" does the National Park Service not understand? 

Apparently, several parks (maybe all of them) under the National Park Service are refusing cash from visitors and are only accepting credit or debit cards. This has led to three lawsuits (at this time).

National Parks Traveler reported:

The National Park Service's increasing move to only accept credit cards for entrance to parks has driven three visitors to sue the agency, saying its policy is unreasonable and an abuse of discretion and that federal law states that legal tender is suitable "for all public charges."

Esther van der Werf of Ojai, California, Toby Stover, of High Falls, New York, and Elizabeth Dasburg, of Darien, Georgia, brought the lawsuit [attached below] earlier this month after being told their U.S. currency would not be accepted for entry into Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Tonto National Monument, Saguaro National Park, Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Site, and Fort Pulaski National Monument.

"NPS’s violation of federal law cannot be overlooked in favor of any purported benefit NPS cashless could hope to achieve, such as reducing logistics of handling cash collected," reads a section of the lawsuit. "Moreover, there is an increased cost to the NPS in going cashless, such as additional processing fees that will be borne by NPS and by visitors who ultimately fund the federal government through taxes, in addition to personal surcharges and bank fees visitors may incur under NPS cashless policy.

"However, plaintiffs do not ask the court to prohibit NPS from accepting credit cards, debit cards, or digital payment methods (such as ApplePay) should visitors to NPS sites prefer to use them. Rather, plaintiffs ask the court to restore entrance to NPS sites to those who cannot access non-cash payment methods (and those who choose not to) by declaring NPS cashless to be unlawful."

Us "geezers" don't have to worry about this as our national park Senior Pass gets us in without having to pay anything. Still, I agree that the NPS should also accept cash for entry fees.

To read more, go here. 

Gas Station Credit Card Scams On The Rise

In these days of Bidenflation, there are some out there who are scamming people and their credit or debit cards. The problem is on the rise, particularly at gas stations.

RV Travel has posted an article on not falling victim to gas station credit card scams.

They begin it with:

RVers, beware! There’s a new threat lurking at one of the places you visit most… gas stations. Gas station credit card scams are on the rise and here’s what you should know about them.

Picture this: You pull up to a gas station, swipe your card at the pump without a second thought, and go about your day. Harmless, right? Wrong. Gas station credit card scams have been on the rise across the country, leaving unsuspecting consumers vulnerable to identity theft and financial loss.

It’s been happening in my neighborhood lately and is the topic among local NextDoor and Facebook groups. It’s happening to our community members at grocery store gas stations, but it could happen anywhere… and it is.

To read more, go here. 

Laundromat Rip-Offs

Above, the laundromat at Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While on the road, I've rarely used RV park laundromats. That's because I plan ahead and my RV trips are of short duration (no longer than a week, usually) and do my post-travel laundry at home.

Just in case I need to use a laundromat, I do keep a handy supply of quarters. 

Debit and credit card usage is slowly creeping into laundromats. RV Travel has an article that paying by card at laundromats can lead to one being ripped off.

They begin it with:

While showman P.T. Barnum is accused of turning the phrase, “There’s a sucker born every minute,” it may be the poor fellow has been done the dirt. Barnum’s biographer has tried and tried to track down the truth, and suggests that Barnum, who was respectful of his customers, probably never said it. But one truth is known: If there’s a sucker born every minute, you can bet there are at least two con men waiting outside the delivery room for it to happen. And now it looks like folks who need to come clean at the Laundromat may be taken to the cleaners.

To read more, go here. 

Survey: 10 Top Inconveniences of Japan Travel

Above, Shibuya Crossing (or Scramble) in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The following will be of interest to those who have never traveled to Japan, more so than to those who have been there.

It is results from a survey by Good Luck Trip posted by SoraNews24 on what are the top 10 inconveniences about traveling in Japan. Since I have been to Japan 8 times, none of these have been an issue for me.

They begin with:

10 things to think about before taking your trip to Japan.

Japan is an amazing place to visit. Whether you want to see historical architecture, modern pop culture, breathtaking natural scenery, or just eat some really, really good food, Japan’s myriad wonders have turned it into a top destination for international travelers.

Of course, Japan isn’t perfect, and so not every trip to the country is nonstop enjoyment. Japanese inbound tourist-focused travel website Good Luck Trip recently conducted an online survey asking people who’ve visited Japan what sort of inconveniences or problems they encountered. Responses were collected from 891 participants (106 using English, 102 Korean, 103 simplified Chinese, and 580 traditional Chinese), and the organizers have released the top 10 results.

Let’s take a look at the top 10.

To see the survey results, go here. 

Visa, Mastercard Pause Decision To Track Gun Shop Purchases

 

A victory for the Second Amendment came after Visa and MasterCard announced their "pause" in implementing the decision to categorize gun shop purchases.

While this is good news, this doesn't go far enough. They need to definitely end this categorization permanently.

From the Associated Press:

NEW YORK (AP) — Visa and Mastercard paused their decision to start categorizing purchases at gun shops, a significant win for conservative groups and Second Amendment advocates who felt that tracking gun shop purchases would inadvertently discriminate against legal firearms purchases.

The decision is, at the same time, also a defeat for gun control groups. There had been hope that categorizing credit and debit card purchases would allow authorities to potentially see red flags — like significant ammunition purchases — before a mass shooting could happen.

After Visa and Mastercard announced their plans to implement a separate merchant category code for gun shop purchases, the payment networks got significant pushback from the gun lobby as well as conservative politicians. A group of 24 GOP state attorneys general wrote a letter to the payment networks threatening legal action against Visa and Mastercard if they moved forward with their plan.

To read more, go here. 

RV Travel Poll: Some National Parks No Longer Take Cash To Enter

Above, an entrance gate to Yosemite National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Some are saying that we have an over-reliance on credit and debit cards. Some are also saying that "digital currency" is the wave of the future. 

Both are lousy ideas as the corrupt government can control and spy on people through such transactions.

This doesn't affect me since I have my lifetime national park Senior Pass, so I don't have to pay anything.

RV Travel has noticed that some national parks are no longer accepting cash at entrance stations. They have a poll posted asking if this is a good or bad idea. 

They begin it with:

We’ve been noticing that more and more places aren’t accepting cash anymore. Are you finding this true where you are, too? Even some National Parks have said goodbye to cash and are only accepting payments in the form of credit or debit cards.

If you pulled up to an NP booth wanting to pay your entrance fee in cash but they turned you away, how would you feel about this? Is it a good idea or a bad idea? As always, please feel free to leave a comment after you vote. Thanks!

To participate in the poll, go here. 

Gun Store Purchases: Just Use Cash

Above, an Albuquerque gun store. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Democrats are a huge collection of sneaky bastards who would love to create a gun registry for the ultimate aim of gun confiscation.

The latest is the move by the International Standards Organization, who sets rules on Visa and other credit card companies. Under Democrat pressure, the plan is to introduce a special purchase code for gun store sales. Through the back door, this is nothing less than creating a special registry of gun sales.

The code doesn't differentiate between purchases of guns, gun cleaning products or anything else. Anything purchased at a gun store gets the code when bought with a credit card.

The National Rifle Association (NRA) is fighting it.

From CBS News:

The National Rifle Association is slamming the credit card industry's new effort to track gun purchases, describing the plan as "creating a national registry of gun owners."

The NRA is pushing back against decision on Friday from the International Standards Organization (ISO), which sets rules across the financial services industry, to create a new merchant category code for gun and ammunition retailers. ISO's decision comes after mounting pressure on credit card companies by Democrats in Congress who favor use of such a code. 

Merchant category codes are four-digit codes that describe the retailer where a purchase is made, without detailing the specific item bought. These codes allow credit-card issuers to track and restrict purchases — for instance, offering rewards credit cards that give bonus points for travel purchases or cash-back on grocery spending.

On Monday, the NRA questioned the purpose of the new code and the motives for creating it. 

"The ISO's decision to create a firearm specific code is nothing more than a capitulation to anti-gun politicians and activists bent on eroding the rights of law-abiding Americans one transaction at a time," NRA spokesman Lars Dalseide said in an email to CBS MoneyWatch. "This is not about tracking or prevention or any virtuous motivation — it's about creating a national registry of gun owners."

Visa, Mastercard and American Express all said they plan to move forward with the plan to categorize gun shop sales.

This looks to be a long battle. In the meantime, if one is to make a purchase at a gun shop, just use cash. It is legal to buy guns with cash.

To read the full article, go here. 

Gun Control Group Wants Credit Card Companies To Flag Gun and Ammo Purchases

Gun control activist organizations are calling on credit card companies to flag gun and ammunition purchases. Obviously, they don't give a rat's behind about people's rights of privacy besides Second Amendment rights.

From Breitbart:

Gabby Giffords’ gun control group, Giffords, is calling on major credit card companies to flag gun and ammunition purchases.

Giffords posted a tweet Sunday, which said, “The shooters in at least 5 mass shootings have stockpiled guns & ammo using credit cards and killed 145 people. Visa, Mastercard, and American Express have the power to flag suspicious purchases and save lives. Call on them to act.”

The tweet linked to a campaign by another gun control group called GunsDownAmerica.

The GunsDownAmerica campaign says, “Between 2007 and 2020, the killers in at least five major mass shootings used credit cards to finance their deadly rampages. These individuals exploited the banking system to purchase large quantities of firearms and ammunition — and the financial industry has the power to stop them.”

At least one card company has resisted this in the past:

On March 9, 2018, Breitbart News reported that Visa refused to succumb to the pressure, noting that it is not the credit card company’s job to “[set] restrictions on the sale of lawful goods and services.”

To read the full article, go here. 

Payment and Tax-Free Tips In Japan

Above, the Shibuya shopping district of Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If one is planning to visit Japan for the first time, they should be mindful that "cash is king" in the country.

Time Out Tokyo has an article on paying for goods and avoiding some taxes.

They begin with:

Although having a credit card is very common in Japan, the majority of all purchases in this country are still made with cash. Although that might change in time for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as various experiments with cashless payment solutions are being undertaken by the government, it’s best to carry at least some cold hard yen at all times. Read on for our tips on paying in Japan and learn how to avoid the usual pitfalls.

To read more, go here. 

April 9 Blog Post Pick-ups

The good folks at The Japan Daily has picked up several blog posts from yesterday for sharing with their readers.

They include:

To read The Japan Daily, go here.

Using ATM and Credit Cards Around Japan

Above, Gamera souvenirs for sale at a movie premiere. While ATM and credit cards are
used more frequently, Japan is still primarily a "cash-only" nation. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I first visited Japan in 2001, it was generally a "cash-only" country whose businesses did not accept credit cards (with very few exceptions) and very few ATM machines accepted foreign debit cards (and those were mostly found in Japanese post offices).

14 years later, it is somewhat the same, but usage of credit cards is becoming more frequent and more ATM machines are accepting foreign debit cards. After seven visits to Japan, I have used my debit card once and that was at Narita International Airport to make a purchase in a duty-free shop after I had already exchanged my yen for dollars last year.

Japan Info has posted an article outlining the usage of ATM and credit cards around Japan. If one is planning a trip to Japan, they should read this article and plan accordingly.

They begin with:

Japan sure is one of the best countries to visit in the entire world. It seems that Japan’s entire archipelago is filled with a tourist attraction one must visit. It has beautiful sceneries, colorful landscapes and rich architecture that draw tourists from different places. For that reason, if you want to visit Japan you must at least know an inkling about using your ATM and Credit cards around Japan.

 To read the full article, go here.

Check Your Bank or Credit Card International Fees

Above, a ATM booth in Niigata. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whether you're traveling to Japan or any other international destination and plan to use your credit or bank card, beware! There may be hidden costs that you don't know about.

Travelers Today posted an article that would be helpful if you plan on using a card.

They begin with:

The worst thing is coming back from a perfect trip to find that it costs more than you thought. Bank and credit cards may cost you more if you are traveling abroad and do not understand the fees associated with withdrawing money or buying goods. Here are some general tips to help you save some money while you are enjoying your vacation.

Read more: http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/13895/20141110/secret-travel-costs.htm#ixzz3If5nWfn3

Latest In Blog Pick-ups

The good folks over at The Japan Daily scooped up several of today's blog posts to share with their readers.

They include:

To read The Japan Daily, go here.

Credit Card Companies Making It Easier To Pay In Foreign Currencies In Japan

Above, it may be easier to buy things at places like Asakusa's Nakamise Street in the future with credit cards. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan has been known as a "cash-only" nation. Check usage is extremely rare. Credit card and debit card usage was rare, but is now on the rise. The first time I used my Visa debit card in Japan was last February at Narita International Airport. This was only because I already exchanged my remaining yen back into dollars. This was a lot easier to do than when I first visited Japan 13 years ago.

This will be even more true as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gets nearer. In preparation, Japanese businesses are moving towards credit card usage and giving the traveler the choices between being charged in yen or their own foreign currency. In the past, foreign tourists were only allowed to make credit card purchases in yen.

According to The Japan News (Yomiuri Shimbun):

An increasing number of credit card companies in Japan are allowing foreign tourists to make purchases in foreign currencies, instead of yen, when they use credit cards. 

With an eye on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, credit card companies are reinforcing their business tie-ups with hotels and other businesses in the tourist industry to encourage foreign tourists to use credit cards. 

On Sept. 12, a British tourist said that when he stayed at the Yokohama Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers, he was asked whether he wanted to pay his bill in yen or British pounds. He chose pounds.

To read more, go here. 

Foreign Credit Card-Friendly ATMs Coming To Japan?

Above, an ATM booth at Niigata Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is relatively a cash-only country as far as foreign tourists are concerned. Very few businesses or banks accept ATM cards or credit cards. 

The Japanese government would like to change all that ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Japan Times reported:

Under the campaign to help tourists ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the government plans to step up pressure on banks and convenience stores to update their ATMs so it’s easier to withdraw cash with a foreign credit card. 

In response to complaints from foreign travelers about the lack of ATMs that will accept foreign-issued cards, the Japan Tourism Agency has called on major banks to take action as part of the government’s effort to increase the number foreign travelers here to 20 million over the next six years.

 Generally, one has to go to a Japanese post office to use an ATM that will accept foreign credit cards.

To read more, go here.

7 Rookie Mistakes To Avoid When Arriving In Japan

Above, the Wako (left) and Mitsukoshi (right) department stores in Ginza, Photo by Armand Vaquer.

If you have never been to Japan and you are about to go for the first time, the good folks at Gaijinpot.com have posted an article on "7 Rookie Mistakes To Avoid When Arriving In Japan."

The mistakes are easy ones to make, but they are relatively minor ones in the grand scheme of things.

They begin the article with:

Some people arrive in Japan knowing the history and culture of the country, being obsessed with Manga and Anime, and having learned more of the language than just “konnichiwa.” While some on the other hand get told that they are moving to Japan and it’s the only option for their life for the next two years. 

I was the latter, having arrived with a few thousand others thanks to the U.S. Military. Since I didn’t have the time to get to know the culture before arriving, I made some serious rookie slip-ups, and I think I wasn’t the only one. 

Here’s a look at some of the most common mistakes to avoid that could end up costing you a lot of time, money, or embarrassment. 

Regarding number 4, usage of credit or debit cards in Japan, I knew ahead of time that the country is primarily a cash country. Usage of debit or credit cards has increased in the 13 years since my first visit, but it is still mainly a cash country. I have used my debit card there once, and that was during my last trip in February when I bought some things at a duty-free shop at Narita International Airport. This was only because I had already exchanged my yen for dollars prior to going to the departure gates.

To read the full article, go here.