Two state lawmakers in New York want to impose an excise tax on each round of ammunition available for purchase to the public.
Late last month, Sen. Andrew Gounardes (D-Brooklyn) and Assemblywoman Pat Fahy (D-Albany) unveiled S. 8415, which would tax the retail sale of ammo at the following rates:
- (a) Ammunition that contains a single projectile that measures .22 caliber or less sold at retail shall be taxed at a rate of two cents per projectile.
- (b) All other ammunition other than that specified in paragraph (a) of this subdivision and sold at retail shall be taxed at a rate of five cents per projectile.
The bill also allows the commissioner to adjust the rate to “maintain a consistent effect relative to inflation.”
The lawmakers said the tax will help generate revenue for a newly created gun violence “research institute.”
Originally, the research institute was supposed to have funds directed to it “voluntarily by taxpayers with an optional contribution,” as Spectrum News noted back in Nov. of 2021.
But it appears that Sen. Gounardes and Assemblywoman Fahy want to force law-abiding gun owners to fund this burgeoning anti-gun think tank.
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“As we seek to address New York’s rise in gun violence, it’s incumbent on us as legislators to identify fact-based approaches that will save lives and bring peace to our communities,” Gounardes said. “By taxing ammunition, we are fairly funding research that will help us build smart and effective policies.”
“When we talk about gun violence prevention and community-based policies that help to interrupt cycles of violence, resources matter,” Fahy added.
“By directing revenue generated off of the sale of ammunition in New York to gun violence research and addressing its root causes, we’re putting resources where they’re most effectively used and protecting more New Yorkers from the scourge of gun violence,” he continued.
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Alan Gottlieb, the founder of the Second Amendment Foundation, blasted this latest effort by politicians to chill the 2A rights of law-abiding citizens.
“The power to tax is the power to destroy,” said Gottlieb in an email to GunsAmerica, “and that is what they want to do to our Second Amendment right to own and use firearms.”
Joe Johnson, manager of Armageddon Arsenal Supply in LeRay, explained to WWNY TV News how it would affect .22LR specifically.
“Adding 2 cents to something that’s only 2.7 cents, you literally just about doubled your cost,” he said.
Quite a diabolic scheme these two Dems cooked up. Force responsible gun owners to pay for a new bureaucracy that’s sole purpose is to publish junk research that paves the way for more incremental civil disarmament.
S. 8415 has been referred to a Senate committee. We’ll keep an eye on it. Stay tuned for updates.
Another reason to move out of NY…
“As we seek to address New York’s rise in gun violence, it’s incumbent on us as legislators to identify fact-based approaches that will save lives and bring peace to our communities,” How about just lock up and keep them there when they commit a crime? The guy who smeared feces on the defenseless woman in the subway is out again on bail. Isn’t it a fact that he was arrested 40 times in the past and is still walking around to target more people? When he smears crap on an elite liberals face that will be the end of no cash bail. Of course they probably don’t have to use the subway. Yet, even with over 40 reported previous arrests, the judge indicated that since the latest charges are misdemeanors, he allowed the suspect out of jail under New York’s bail reform laws.
Prosecutors pushed for at least $5,000 bail for the suspect unsuccessfully.
A week before the subway attack, Abrokwa was arrested for allegedly threatening a hardware store employee with a screwdriver. He was again released without bail, DailyMail reports.
Well now. How original. NOT.
This is just more proof that there is a distinct lack of curiosity on the left these days. This garbage has already been floated elsewhere. It won’t work. They didn’t bother to research it first. Clearly, these so-called “legislators” think Lexis-Nexis is a Starbucks drink…..
We’ve had this useless tax in Cook (Crook) County IL (Chicago area) since 2014. It has done WONDERS in reducing “gun violence” among underprivileged yoots in Chicago. Just an added cost of doing business for the gangbangers.
NEW YORK …. BWAHAAHAAHAAAA !!!