August 9th, 2024
The concept of “Sin Taxes,” is by no means a new one. Governments have long attempted to disincentivize the public from partaking in certain purchasing activities by implementing additional taxes on specified products. Alcohol and cigarettes have been the most common targets, historically. In a similar, fallacious fashion to the ATF, many states have lumped guns into this category and implemented supplemental taxes on gun purchases, dissuading locals from buying firearms.
It is in no way a “sin” to utilize one’s God-given 2nd Amendment right to self-defense and preservation, nor should it be treated as such or discouraged in any way by governing entities. For states and localities to do so is an invariable violation of the Constitution and an act of tyranny against the American people.
Thankfully, there are members of Congress who agree with this sentiment and have proposed a bill that would prevent states from enacting such measures entitled the “Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act.” Put forward by Idaho Senator James Risch and California Representative Darrel Issa, the bill appears to have been drafted in direct response to the novel 11% tax on firearm and ammunition purchases imposed by California, Issa’s home state. Although the tax has been challenged and is currently tied up in court proceedings and appeals, these Congressional Republicans have taken it upon themselves to put an end to this misdirected attempt to restrict law-abiding gun owners further.
Issa slammed the “Sin Tax” designation herself in a press release, proclaiming that, “For years, extreme state policies and governors, including from my home state, have targeted the fundamental Second Amendment rights of our fellow Americans. California’s new imposition of a ‘sin tax’ on firearms and ammunition equates a core constitutional freedom with gambling or drug use. Enough is enough.”
Senators Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Representative Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) accompanied Issa and Risch in the legislation’s introduction.
Previously implemented iterations of such firearm-sale taxes by cities and municipalities have been tremendous failures, often resulting in consumers simply fleeing city limits and purchasing from gun stores outside of the tax’s applied jurisdiction. This does of course lead to an immense loss of business by gun stores inside city limits and even their eventual closure or departure for freer and more Constitutionally minded areas.
In 2016, the city of Seattle implemented a similar tax policy, which resulted in a substantial loss of revenue for Seattle’s Outdoor Emporium and the few other gun stores in the town. Ironically, however, Seattle ended up losing a significant amount of sales tax revenue as well due to the dramatic decrease in gun purchases that the gun-specific tax invariably failed to even make up for.
Although unlikely to proceed past the 50-50 split Senate, and even more certain to be vetoed by Joe Biden should it reach his desk, the introduction of this bill is a promising sign for 2A activists everywhere. It’s a revitalizing speck of hope to see elected officials fighting back against ever-encroaching restrictions on the God-given rights of the people. Furthermore, it serves as a foretelling of what could be accomplished if pro-2nd Amendment candidates achieve widespread success in November, and it encourages taking the necessary actions to ensure victories in elections nationwide.
