In October I told you about an attempt by politicians in Tacoma, Washington to use a loophole to get around state law that prevents them from creating gun control laws by using the city tax code to target gun owners and gun shop owners.
The measure was momentarily thwarted by amendments, but ultimately passed on November 12, and will take effect July 1, 2020.
The tax will add $25 to the price of firearms sold within the city limits, and a 2-cent tax per round of .22 caliber ammo (and smaller calibers), and a 5-cent tax per round on larger calibers. You can buy some brands of .22LR online today for less than 4 cents a round, so 2 cents per round is a tax of over 50%. Such exorbitant taxation is solely meant to punish gun owners and gun shop owners. Many shops will go out of business. Shelby Miller and Casey McNerthney report for KIRO7 News:
Local shops, such as Surplus Ammo, said they wouldn’t be able to compete.
“The store will be closed by Jan. 1. We will close the doors, so there will be 11 people unemployed,” said Surplus Ammo manager Bruce Smith.
The move could also impact Aero Precision. The Tacoma-based company is one of the largest gun manufactures in the country.
“This is our 25th year in Tacoma and we feel this is way outside the bounds of what should be done,” CEO Scott Dover said.
Dover said the tax could cost him hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.
“If it came down to it, we would consider all options, including moving,” he said. “Personally I think city council should be held to a higher standard. If this ordinance goes into place, jobs will move out, the revenue obviously won’t be there, and then what?”
Tacoma’s law follows a similar effort by Seattle. If legal challenges can’t put a stop to these unjust attempts to squash the firearms industry, such laws could be seen cropping up in cities all over the country.
Now more than ever, it’s imperative you get your guns and your training now.
