TOPEKA, Kan. - A gun-dealers trade group is pushing legislation in several conservative states to restrict what it says is discrimination by financial institutions.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation initiated legislation in Kansas, Georgia, Alabama and Missouri over the last year after hearing from gun businesses that allege they've been unfairly denied financial services, including by insurance companies.

Robert Hartwig, president of the Insurance Information Institute, called the effort a "solution in search of a problem." He says guns are big business in the U.S., and insurance companies are going to compete for it.

Other companies and organizations also are opposed, saying if such anti-discrimination laws are needed, they should be extended to other legal businesses, not to one industry.