Seattle’s southern neighbor, Tacoma, Washington, is going to weigh a plan that’s already proven to be a failed policy. But since its anti-gun, city council members think it is worth adopting. City Councilman Ryan Mello proposed that Tacoma adopt Seattle’s so-called “gun violence tax” plan that would levy a $25 tax on firearms, a two-cent-per-round tax on .22-caliber or less, or five-cent-per-round for all other ammunition that’s sold at retail.
To put this in real costs, that’s $25 on top of the excise taxes already paid by firearms and ammunition manufacturers, just to exercise a constitutional right by a law-abiding citizen to buy a gun. Rimfire ammunition runs about five cents per round. A two-cent tax increases the cost by 40 percent. A five-cent tax on a box of shotgun shells adds roughly 11 percent to the price tag.
Of course, a higher tax is proposed for “higher velocity” or military-style ammunition, including hollow-points. Never mind that the overwhelming majority of ammunition used by the military is full metal jacketed rounds.
Mello’s reason? “They’re designed to pierce through body armor with the intent to kill somebody,” he said.
No. Hollow-points are not designed to pierce body armor. In fact, there’s definitive proof that body armor easily defeats hollow-point ammunition.
Criminals Don’t Pay Taxes or Follow Laws
What Mello is really doing is placing the blame for the crime on law-abiding gun owners. Here’s what Mello is missing. Law-abiding gun owners buying firearms at retail are already navigating a tangled web of complicated gun control laws. They complete the sale of that firearm by completing a Form 4473 and an approval from the FBI National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Of course, since it’s Washington, that also means the law-abiding gun owner must wait for “enhanced background checks” on semi-automatic modern sporting rifles and handgun transfers that can take as long as 10 days.
Washington also has an age-based gun ban on semiautomatic rifles, so if you’re an 18-year-old adult legally allowed to vote, exercise freedom of speech and religion, you still can’t exercise your Second Amendment rights. If you’re over 21, you must complete additional training requirements and have the chief law enforcement officer’s approval to own a modern sporting rifle. It’s all part of the I-1639 ballot initiative the state enacted into law.
That’s just for those who follow the law. Criminals, of course, don’t bother with any of this. They just steal them or get them on the black market. That’s proven by the Department of Justice’s Bureau of Statistics report showing 90 percent of felons get firearms from means other than legally buying them — theft or the street corner.
All of that brings us back to taxing the wrong people who aren’t responsible for the so-called gun violence. Mello said the tax would fund gun violence programs in Tacoma, much like Seattle said it would.
Taxed Out of Existence
The problem is, Seattle’s gun and ammo tax failed. The money was meant to offset the cost for treating victims of so-called gun violence at Harborview Medical Center, which city officials said costs taxpayers millions. Seattle raised $104,000 in 2017, the first year the tax was in effect. In 2018, Seattle raised $93,000.
It didn’t work. Crime went up in Seattle just like taxes. In fact, the city’s police chief reported complaints of shots fired were up by 65 percent and recorded crimes involving firearms dropped by just six. At the same time, firearms retailers in Seattle shuttered their shops, moving outside the city. Gun stores went from 40 to 32.
Mello doesn’t want Tacoma to offset the cost of victims of criminal activity.He wants Seattle’s results. Mello’s trying to drive lawful firearms retailers out of town and punish those who lawfully own and use their firearms.
How can Tacoma residents and gun store owners combat this tax that has been proven to uneffective in Seattle? Share your answer in the comment section.
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So, what is the NRA doing for the good people of Seattle and Tacoma? How much of members hard earned donations and dues have been turned loose upon these lawless politicians in the form of litigation and meaningful input? Anything? Not enough. Keep your dues and donations in the state of Washington. You won’t stand up for yourselves, and the NRA is busy spending your money on cushy lifestyles and fighting for giant corporations and their fat military contracts. You’re gonna need the cash to pay these taxes…..
Something tells me Kalashnikov Dude you are not even a member of the NRA. You only speak of what the MSM say and others like yourself know nothing of what really go on within the organization. My granny had a saying, that lends itself to you, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and have people wonder if you are an idiot than open your mouth and prove you are”!
Oh, if you are going to tear down the largest, strongest, most effective pro-gun organization, please have the guts to at least use your real (whole) name.
Larry Schillinger
NRA Benefactor Life Member
Look Larry, I was a member in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Once Clinton’s AWB took place I began to question my donations and dues. What exactly were they being used for? Republican president Bush had eliminated select firearms for all but the rich. And then Clinton’s AWB ensured I’d never make enough money from my chosen profession and hobby of buying, selling, trading, and customizing firearms to ever even pay for itself. Since, we’ve had more Bush’s, Obama, and the threat of another Clinton. NRA took it upon themselves to endorse Trump. And accept, if not back more and more restrictions on my right to keep and bear arms. Not hunting. Not sporting. Arms Larry. The NRA is a cadre of self serving lawyers living the high life on you back. When they do step up to the plate, it’s in favor of more politicians and corporations. Not you and not me, or our 2nd Amendment. You wanna keep sending these dirt bags your money? Be my guest. But do not sit here and judge me because I call out this BS. Wake up! I’ve probably been Kalashnikov Dude longer than you’ve been online. That’s my handle, because the people running around out there can’t handle information like my given name without trying to get me fired or singled out and worse because I showed a picture of me with a gun, exercising my rights on my own social media profile. They wouldn’t be so bold if it weren’t for organizations like the NRA that do not keep their promises and allow governments to run amok.
At this point I do not see how Tacoma citizens can do anything about these new laws without using the courts. Washington has become a new hotbed of anti-gun laws.
As far as the NRA is concerned I am not giving them a dime more until Wayne Lapierre goes. I never liked Oly North but I think he was right on this one. It is past time for the NRA board to clean house and stop defending Wayne. In fact I believe the NRA board is tainted.
Jeffrey Ward
NRA Special Life Member
I’m with Kalishnakov. The NRA does not stand with us anymore. You’re better served to help fund the 2nd Amendment Foundation or some other gun rights organization. I stopped sending my membership money to the NRA years ago and haven’t looked back since. In Washington we lose more and more gun rights every year and the NRA does nothing. Larry don’t bother attacking me too because it’s apparent that you are a BLOW HARD!!!
Disband the ATF and dismantle the NFA.
Never expect someone else to do for you what you won’t do for yourself. Yes the NRA needs to help but someone with some money needs to Stand on his own feet and start a lawsuit against this law and the people who passed it.
Governments never run out of your money to fight you with in courts, made up of the judicial branch of governments. The highest law of the land says we don’t have to abide this law. People with and without money need to just say no to tyranny. With pitchforks, torches, and rope and rifles if necessary. We The People don’t need to beat the government. We are the government. Politicians simply need to be reminded of their place. Easy way, or hard way.