Lawmakers Propose New Taxes On Guns & Ammo

Lawmakers are frustrated as at every turn they are met with resistance against gun bans. Now they are seeking to regulate firearms and ammunition with taxation, a sin tax of sorts. According to Fox News, The proposals range from the modest — a proposed 5 percent tax in New Jersey — to the steep — a proposed 50 percent ammo tax in Maryland. The bills follow efforts to ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines and expand background checks, measures that have had mixed success at the state level. The taxes — much like so-called “sin taxes,” like those on cigarettes — serve a dual purpose. They can deter buyers, while using the extra revenue for favored programs. In this case, the sponsors want to direct the money toward mental health services, police training and victims’ treatment. Obviously this is punishing law abiding citizens and a gross abuse of the power of taxation. Senior vice president and general counsel for the National Shooting Sports Foundation Lawrence Keane said, “If anything, gun owners ought to be getting a tax rebate for helping reduce crime.” “We’re obviously extremely opposed to try to tax the lawful exercise of the Second Amendment rights by law-abiding Americans,” he said. "Lawmakers eye new taxes on guns, ammo in latest wave of legislation Read more: