New York state lawmakers are trying to enlist the major credit card companies in an effort to better track firearms purchases and help flag potentially suspicious buys.

A group of 50 lawmakers led by state Sen. Zellnor Myrie and Assemblymember Chantel Jackson released a letter on Monday urging credit card CEOs at Mastercard and American Express to make a coding change that would enable them to categorize gun dealers as a distinct group of sellers.

"The rise in gun violence has had devastating consequences for New Yorkers, and we need every sector to step up and do their part," Myrie said. "Credit card companies have the power to identify merchants and transactions, and report suspicious activity to law enforcement when it may preempt a mass shooting. We urge American Express and Mastercard to take a simple step today that may prevent massive bloodshed in the future."

Credit card companies already list a range of distinct merchant groups like candy shops, wig stores or for sellers of electric razors.

"Credit card companies already categorize and track purchases of many other products," Jackson said. "We need financial institutions to step up and join the fight against gun violence by creating a distinct MCC for firearm sales. Doing so could permit law enforcement to intervene before bloodshed occurs."

At the same time, lawmakers and Gov. Kathy Hochul have sought ways of better tracking gun buys in the wake of mass shootings in New York and around the country.

Lawmakers and Hochul this summer agreed to an expansion of the state's red flag measure, meant to keep guns away from people deemed to be a danger to themselves or others. New York is set to once again study the potential of microstamping bullet casings.

Elected officials also moved to tighten conceal carry permit provisions following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that scaled back New York's century-old law.

Republican lawmakers have argued the changes to the state's gun laws have punished existing gun owners who follow the law and will not have any effect on public safety.