“Sin Tax” on Guns? Bill Takes Aim at State Firearm and Ammo Taxes

A new bill landed on the House floor that would prohibit excise taxes on guns and ammo.

Introduced by U.S. Reps. In late March, Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act would prevent states from enacting excise taxes on firearms and ammunition, which would fund gun control programs.

California and Colorado currently have legislation on the books that implement excise taxes on firearms, parts, and ammo to fund such programs. California’s excise tax sits at a whopping 11%, while Colorado passed a 6.5% excise tax that kicked off this month. (California’s tax has been challenged in court.)

Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, and Washington have also proposed similar taxes.

Gun and ammo makers already pay a federal excise tax under the Pittman-Robertson tax, which levies a 10 and 11% excise tax on firearms and ammo to fund wildlife conservation. Since 1937, the Pittman-Robertson tax has generated close to $30 billion.

Issa, H.R 2442’s sponsor, called state excise taxes “extreme” and said his bill is designed to protect law-abiding Americans.

“For too many years, extreme state policies — including from my home state — have targeted our fundamental Second Amendment rights and the American citizens who exercise them,” said Congressman Issa in a statement.

“The latest attack is California’s imposition of a ‘sin tax’ on firearms and ammunition. This outrageous and unfair burden on law-abiding citizens is why Sen. Risch, Rep. Hudson, and I are working to stop this and other attempts to penalize our people and put the price of self-defense out of reach of any American.”

The bill has been backed by several Second Amendment groups including  the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Rifle Association.

Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel, issued a statement denouncing the so-called “sin tax,” saying that Constitutional rights are not sins to be taxed.

“The idea that law-abiding citizens who responsibly exercise their Second Amendment rights must bear the cost to fund programs designed to denigrate that very right is anathema to free exercise of our rights. This is akin to the unconstitutional poll taxes that were struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1966,” Keane explained.

“The lawmakers in the states that levy these taxes reveal their contempt for the Second Amendment and disdain for citizens who obey the law. NSSF is grateful to Congressmen Issa and Hudson, as well as Senator Risch, for their principled stand against these taxes that are an affront to the free exercise of Constitutionally-protected rights.”

The bill has been referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Should excise taxes be used to fund programs in states? Let us know your thoughts below! For more on what’s going on in the gun world, check out our News page.