California Lawmakers Propose Bullet Tax to Curb Gun Crime (5 cents per round)

[jpak]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-29/california-lawmakers-propose-per-bullet-tax-to-curb-gun-violence.html

California should tax bullets to pay for mental-health programs and to put more police in crime- ridden areas, two Democratic state lawmakers proposed.

One bill, by Assemblyman Roger Dickinson of Sacramento would impose a 5-cent tax per bullet sold to expand a program that screens children for mental illness. A similar measure from Oakland’s Rob Bonta would aid law enforcement in cities with the highest violent-crime rates. A third would require licenses for ammunition dealers and have them report all sales.

The bills are among nine aimed at gun violence after mass shootings last year in Newtown, Connecticut; Aurora, Colorado; and Oak Creek, Wisconsin. A tax increase in California requires a two-thirds majority vote by the legislature or a public referendum. Democratic supermajorities control both chambers.

“It shouldn’t be so easy to buy bullets, the very thing that makes a gun deadly,” said Assemblywoman Nancy Skinner, a Democrat from Berkeley. “While we have numerous safeguards in place to purchase a gun, it’s easier today to buy bullets than to buy alcohol, cigarettes or some cold medicines.”

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[gejohnston]

1. it won't curb anything

“While we have numerous safeguards in place to purchase a gun, it’s easier today to buy bullets than to buy alcohol, cigarettes or some cold medicines.”

hyperbole or cluelessness?

If you live in Tahoe, just walk down the street.

[upaloopa]

3. Gunners tell me the problem is mental health

and gang violence.
But to a gunner nothing works if it doesn't call for more guns and ammo.
I think we may have a new law in spite of gunner memes.

[gejohnston]

4. and the gunners are right.

Just look at Chicago, USVI, Bermuda, Jamaica, PR, DC

[upaloopa]

5. So what's wrong with making gunners pay to

help with the problem?

[gejohnston]

7. because they are not the ones causing it

or at least more so than anyone else. Therefore, everyone should help pay.

[upaloopa]

8. Every body doesn't own a gun and we are

talking about reducing gun violence.

[gejohnston]

9. the people affected are target shooters

hunters, etc. who are not out shooting each other either. They are the ones paying the tax. Most of the gun violence are criminals killing each other for drug market share. That being the case, bong owners contribute more to gun violence than gun owners. I don't picture the Latin Kings, Crips, or your local drug connection buying his ammo legally or paying the tax.

[upaloopa]

11. That makes sense

[iiibbb]

10. So the makers of Basketball shoes should help pay... as well as sports jerseys

Because gangs use/fight over that stuff too.

Also tax performance parts for economy cars.

You know... so they can help with the problem.

[iiibbb]

2. So rather than card purchasers because it's easier than cold medicine

the answer is to charge 5 cents per round? In some cases that is a 50% rate.

Why not per box or by weight?

[tularetom]

6. In the case of small caliber rimfire ammunition it's more than that

You can buy a box of 100 .22LR or Magnum for 7 or 8 bucks.

[Straw Man]

12. Even more.

Last edited Wed Jan 30, 2013, 12:00 AM - Edit history (1)

Federal 510 .22 LR costs about $2.00 for a box of 50. Add $2.50? Target shooters will have to pay more than double for their ammo? In order to pay for mental health care that benefits all of society and has nothing to do with their use of firearms?

Hard to justify, he said understatedly.

[nick of time]

13. I suspect that NV, OR, AZ gun stores

will see a sudden increase in ammo sales from CA residents and CA can't do anything about it.

[jpak]

14. You get stopped for veggie searches at the CA border

You can get stopped for untaxed ammo at the CA border.

oops

[ProgressiveProfessor]

16. Actually you cannot

[Puha Ekapi]

19. They can't

just do random unwarranted searches hoping to find untaxed ammo. Are you in favor of the State having that power? I'm surely not, it is 180 degrees opposite of progressive.

[gejohnston]

20. does UT stop cars crossing the border from Wyoming

looking for fireworks? BTW, when the Air Force told me to move to California, I wasn't stopped at the border for anything.

[friendly_iconoclast]

24. Massachusetts doesn't stop cars at the New Hampshire border looking for booze.

They tried that years ago, but NH shut that down in no uncertain manner by arresting the Masshole
undercover cops writing down license plate numbers in the parking lots of NH state liquor stores.

I imagine the states bordering California will not hesitate to do something similar if California
passes this idiocy.

[petronius]

21. The veggie inspections are voluntary, but you can be turned away if you don't 'volunteer'

The Food and Agricultural Code does contain some gun-related wording about signage related to federal law:

5343.5. At any inspection station maintained at or near the
California border by the director pursuant to Section 5341, the
following sign shall be conspicuously posted in block letters not
less than four inches in height:
"NOTICE: IF YOU ARE A CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, THE FEDERAL GUN CONTROL
ACT MAY PROHIBIT YOU FROM BRINGING WITH YOU INTO THIS STATE FIREARMS
THAT YOU ACQUIRED OUTSIDE OF THIS STATE.
IN ADDITION, IF YOU ARE A NEW CALIFORNIA RESIDENT, STATE LAW
REGULATES YOUR BRINGING INTO CALIFORNIA HANDGUNS AND OTHER DESIGNATED
FIREARMS AND MANDATES THAT SPECIFIC PROCEDURES BE FOLLOWED.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN
BRINGING FIREARMS INTO CALIFORNIA OR TRANSFERRING FIREARMS WITHIN
CALIFORNIA, YOU SHOULD CONTACT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
OR A LOCAL CALIFORNIA LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY."

It would be interesting to know if a state is allowed to inspect or ban the import of an otherwise legal commodity just to enforce payment of a state tax - seems like there's some sort of parallel with sales tax on internet sales. Maybe CA would have to add a "did you buy ammo out of state?" line to the tax form...

[Travis_0004]

26. I doubt they would have the authority

People going across state lines to buy taxes is nothing new. I live in Ohio, and it was somewhat common where I live for people to go to Kentucky to buy cigarettes. Its a bit less common as the tax difference has still shrunk, but there is nothing illegal.

Even if a cop did ask to inspect my vehicle for ammo, I would just tell him no, I have a 4th amendment right not to have my vehicle searched, so I would decline it regardless if I had ammo bought in another state or not.

[Glassunion]

15. Not too bad...

Before / After additional tax per round
.22 Magnum - .22 / .27
9mm - .26 / .31
.223 - .35 / .40
5.56 - .47 / .52
.375 CheyTac - 7.10 / 7.15

Won't effect me... I live in PA. Note to self... Don't buy ammunition in CA.

I don't think it will have the desired result they seek.

[Glaug-Eldare]

17. Next, let's tax abortions to pay for stadiums!

Tax cars to pay for unemployment insurance!

Tax diapers to pay for SWAT teams!

[Remmah2]

18. In PA all the NY's head to PA to buy their fireworks.

In NY fireworks are illegal, yet on the state line at all the major interchanges you can see multiple fireworks stands from NY. Those PA businesses even do mass mailings of ads into NY. The fireworks stores are open 52 weeks a year.

[friendly_iconoclast]

22. It would be illegal, as it infringes on an enumerated right:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis_Star_Tribune_Company_v._Commissioner

[SailorMike]

25. Similar to a poll tax. (nt)

x

[Travis_0004]

28. I'm not so sure about that

Ammo already has an 11% excise tax on it. Which has been in place for about 90 years I believe.

[Bay Boy]

27. I assume the idea is intended to punish lawful gunowners and

has nothing to do with trying to prevent crime.

[friendly_iconoclast]

29. Of course it is!

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

30. Boy, taxing that meth-head, rapist or druggie an extra 30 cents to load their revolver up before

they go commit their crime is REALLY going to make them think twice about the crime. I mean .30 cents... shit! They'll probably wish they could get a knife or something else that didn't require bullets.