DOJs Operation Choke Point Choked Off Business for Gun Sellers: Congress Defunded

The U.S. House determined that the Department of Justice's (DOJ) Operation Choke Point was cutting off "legitimate businesses from their banking lines." Rather than acting as an anti-fraud program, Holder was using Choke Point to keep programs "objectionable" to the administration, from receiving ordinary banking services. Steps to defund the program, through an amendment to the DOJ appropriations bill, passed in the House. Among the main targets of Operation Choke Point are gun and ammo merchants. Nothing is more "objectionable" to the DOJ than the Second Amendment, unless it's white males.

Rep. Darrell Issa said Operation Choke Point is the DOJ's "newest abuse of power:"

“If the administration believes some businesses should be out of business, they should prosecute them before a judge and jury. By forcibly conscripting banks to do their bidding, the Justice Department has avoided any review and any check on their power.” Source: Washington Times

The owner of Powderhorn Outfitters in Massachusetts says after 20 years of perfect financial dealings with TD Bank, they were denied a loan, "not because of our credit...just because we sell guns -- and they said that to us specifically...."

Powderhorn Outfitters, which sells firearms, archery gear and fishing equipment in Hyannis, Massachusetts, posted in an online forum this week that its longtime bank — TD Bank — had suddenly dropped its account. 

“TD Bank does not support the Second Amendment and has contacted us here at the Powderhorn to say that due to our involvement in firearms sales, we as a business are no longer welcome to have an account at their bank,” the sporting goods store posted on northeastshooters.com, an online forum for shooting enthusiasts in New England states. “They classify us in the same gray area as the local weed shops sprouting up on the Cape.” Source: Washington Times 

The United States Consumer Coalition was formed to fight Operation Choke Point.

“They’re targeting various industries, using banks as the weapon of choice.”

“They’re targeting various industries, using banks as the weapon of choice.” 

In January 2014, in the same article linked, is a portion of letter from Issa and Congressman Jim Jordan:

“extraordinary breadth of the [Justice] Department’s dragnet prompts concern that the true goal of Operation Choke Point is not to cut off actual fraudsters’ access to the financial system but rather to eliminate legal financial services to which the Department objects,”..

"Defunding" government is a constitutional weapon the House should should have put to use at least three years ago.

Originally Posted by Maggie @ Maggie's Notebook