Legislation which would prevent state governments from implementing excise taxes on firearms and ammunition has been introduced in Congress, with versions in both the House and Senate.
The House version of the “Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act” is known as H.R. 2442, while the Senate version is S. 1169. The House version is sponsored by Congressmen Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Richard Hudson (R-NC), while Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) is handling the Senate version.
In a news release, Issa observed, “For too many years, extreme state policies — including from my home state — have targeted our fundamental Second Amendment rights and the American citizens who exercise them. The latest attack is California’s imposition of a ‘sin tax’ on firearms and ammunition. This outrageous and unfair burden on law-abiding citizens is why Sen. Risch, Rep. Hudson, and I are working to stop this and other attempts to penalize our people and put the price of self-defense out of reach of any American.”
“Far-left politicians will stop at nothing to undermine the Second Amendment,” said Hudson. “Their latest scheme is an unconstitutional tax that seeks to price you out of your right to keep and bear arms, and this legislation will put a stop to it.”
“Blue states that implement an excessive excise tax to fund gun control initiatives are exploiting the Second Amendment,” said Risch. “The Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act ensures states do not place a significant financial burden on law-abiding gun owners to advance their anti-Second Amendment agenda.”
Additional members of Congress support the legislation: Congressman Doug LaMalfa (CA) and Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), John Hoeven (R-Mont.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), and Pete Ricketts (R-NE.)
According to Issa’s office, last year California implemented a new 11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition to discourage the purchase of firearms and fund gun control programs. Colorado is set to implement a 6.5% excise tax today (April 1). Maryland, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and New Mexico have proposed similar taxes.
Quick to jump on board is the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry umbrella group. In a statement to the media, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel Lawrence Kean explained, “States that are hostile to the firearm industry and Second Amendment freedoms have abused their ability to levy taxes on the sale of firearms and ammunition as a ‘sin tax.’ Exercising a right – whether it is your First Amendment freedoms, Second Amendment or Fourth or Fifth Amendment freedoms – is not a sin. The idea that law-abiding citizens who responsibly exercise their Second Amendment rights must bear the cost to fund programs designed to denigrate that very right is anathema to free exercise of our rights. This is akin to the unconstitutional poll taxes that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1966. The lawmakers in the states that levy these taxes reveal their contempt for the Second Amendment and disdain for citizens who obey the law. NSSF is grateful to Congressmen Issa and Hudson, as well as Senator Risch, for their principled stand against these taxes that are an affront to the free exercise of Constitutionally-protected rights.”
