We recently reported about federal legislation that would ban states from placing punitive excise taxes on the sale of firearms and ammunition.
California Republican U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, one of the sponsors of the Freedom From Unfair Gun Taxes Act, said that for years extreme state policies and governors have targeted the fundamental Second Amendment rights of Americans.
“California’s new imposition of a ‘sin tax’ on firearms and ammunition equates a core constitutional freedom with gambling or drug use,” Issa said. “Enough is enough. That’s why Sen. (Jim) Risch and I are joining forces to introduce this key legislation and stop any state tax that seeks to raise the price of self-defense out of reach for any American.”
Ironically, just a week after the introduction of that federal measure another state is attempting to raise funding on the backs of gun owners. During the current special session of the Nebraska Legislature a measure was introduced that would place a 5% excise tax on all ammunition sales in the Cornhusker State.
The measure is Legislative Bill 65, authored by Democrat Justin Wayne. And according to the measure’s language, the revenue will go to the state Department of Revenue, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Game and Parks Commission.
“The department shall remit the proceeds of the excise tax imposed by this section to the State Treasurer for credit as follows: (a) Fifty percent to the Property Tax Credit Cash Fund; (b) Thirty-five percent to the Wildlife Management Grant Program Fund; and (c) Fifteen percent to the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Grant Program Fund.”
The language of the bill didn’t explain why lawful gun owners practicing their Second Amendment rights were singled out to fund those efforts. Presumably, it is along the lines of a sin tax like those placed on alcohol and tobacco, but this time the “sin” is practicing a constitutionally protected right.
As NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action put it: “LB 65 is a property tax cash grab, saddled on the backs of gun owners. Proponents of LB 65 focus their support on the resources this legislation offers for wildlife conservation efforts and programs to provide support to those suffering from PTSD. That’s only half the story and half of the fund’s allocations. The other remaining 50% is allocated for a property tax cash fund.”
This is just the kind of tax that the federal legislation discussed earlier is trying to bring to an end. But the greed of anti-gun politicians looking to fill budget shortfalls apparently has no limits.
As Sen. Risch said after introduction of the federal legislation to end these tactics: “Democrats’ latest attack on the Second Amendment looks like an excessive excise tax to fund gun control initiatives. The Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Actensures states do not place a significant financial burden on law-abiding gun owners to advance their anti-Second Amendment agenda.”
Nebraska LB 65 was heard last week in the Senate Revenue committee. A vote on the bill could be held at any time.
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