Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently sent a loud and clear message to anti-gun bureaucrats in Austin and woke corporations across the state: “Discriminate against the firearms industry, and we will hold you accountable.”

In a June 16 enforcement action, Paxton ordered the City of Austin to amend its contract with WEX Bank — a major fuel card and payment processor — after city officials failed to include a mandatory clause certifying that WEX does not discriminate against firearms or ammunition businesses.

That clause is required by Senate Bill 19, passed by the Texas Legislature in 2021, specifically to combat the growing trend of “debanking” lawful gun-related companies.

“It is clear from public reporting and sworn statements that WEX Bank engaged in politically motivated debanking of the firearms industry,” Paxton wrote. “This violates Texas law and cannot be tolerated.”

The Real Threat: Financial Blacklisting of Gun Businesses

The issue isn’t new. Since the Obama era, banks and payment processors have worked behind the scenes to cut off financial services to companies that manufacture, sell, or even support the lawful firearms industry.

The practice, widely known as “debanking,” is an unconstitutional form of backdoor gun control — targeting manufacturers, dealers, and accessory providers by treating them like criminal enterprises.

One of the most glaring examples came in 2021, when Defense Solutions Group, a Texas-based gun industry supplier, had its fuel card accounts abruptly canceled by WEX Bank. The reason? The company was involved in firearms sales — perfectly legal activity.

WEX’s decision triggered alarm among Second Amendment advocates, who recognized it as part of a broader pattern of financial discrimination rooted in political ideology rather than law.

The Legislative Response: SB 19

In response, the Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 19, which took effect September 1, 2021.

SB 19 requires that any company entering into a contract over $100,000 with a Texas government entity must include a certification that it does not discriminate against the firearms or ammunition industry.

The law was designed not only to protect Texas-based gun companies, but also to force woke corporations to choose between politics and profit.

“If a company wants to do business with the State of Texas, they will not discriminate against the firearm industry. Period,” said Texas Gun Rights President Chris McNutt.

Yet, despite the law’s clarity, many city governments — including Austin — have quietly tried to bypass or ignore the requirement.

Paxton Forces Compliance

That’s where Attorney General Paxton stepped in.

Upon review of Austin’s contract with WEX Bank, Paxton found that the city had failed to include the mandatory SB 19 language.

More importantly, WEX had a known history of discriminating against lawful firearm industry clients.

The AG issued a formal letter demanding Austin amend the contract immediately or face legal action.

By June 20, the city complied — WEX updated its contract to include the required certification.

While that’s a win, Paxton made it clear that he’s not finished:

“The State of Texas has the tools and the resolve to hold these companies and municipalities accountable. We will enforce SB 19.”

The Backdoor Gun Control You Never Voted For

The Left has always known they can’t destroy the Second Amendment in one blow — so they’ve resorted to chipping away at access and infrastructure.

They target:

• Firearms & ammunition manufacturers
• Accessory suppliers
• Credit card processors
• Insurance companies
• Shipping services

And now banks and fuel providers.

What they can’t ban outright, they attempt to bankrupt through denial of service.

SB 19 was passed to put a stop to that — and Paxton’s action against Austin proves the law has teeth.

The War Wages on

The fight to protect the Second Amendment doesn’t end at the gun counter and there is a never ending covert assault on our Second Amendment rights.

The enemies of liberty know they don’t need to ban guns outright to destroy gun ownership. Instead, they’re waging war through:

• The courtroom, with activist judges and unconstitutional rulings,
• The legislature, with endless attempts to regulate lawful ownership out of existence,
• And the marketplace, by coercing banks, insurers, and service providers to choke off the firearms industry.

It’s not just about one law or one agency — it’s about systematically cutting off the oxygen supply to the Second Amendment itself.

That’s why Texas Gun Rights is committed to fighting back on all fronts — in the courts, in the legislature, and in the public square.