Buckeye Reporter

Last week, multiple bills were reintroduced in Congress aiming to prevent states from imposing excise taxes on firearms and related items. These bills, known as the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act, were introduced by U.S. Senator Jim Risch from Idaho alongside U.S. Representatives Darrell Issa from California and Richard Hudson from North Carolina. The legislation involves Senate Bill S.1169 and House Bill H.R.2442.

In some states, excise taxes on firearms are already in effect. For instance, California has put in place an 11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition to fund gun control measures. A similar tax of 6.5% has been introduced in Colorado on firearms and their components. Other states such as Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, Vermont, and Washington are considering analogous proposals.

Senator Risch expressed concern about these taxes, stating, “Blue states that implement an excessive excise tax to fund gun control initiatives are exploiting the Second Amendment.” He emphasized that the proposed legislation would prevent states from imposing financial burdens on law-abiding gun owners.

Representative Issa also commented on the issue: “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.” He labeled the California tax as a “sin tax” and noted, “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.”

Representative Hudson added, “Far-left politicians will stop at nothing to undermine the Second Amendment. Their latest scheme is an unconstitutional tax that seeks to price you out of your right to keep and bear arms, and this legislation will put a stop to it.”

John Commerford, executive director of NRA-ILA, voiced support for the legislation. He remarked, “There is a growing effort among states to levy excise taxes to discourage firearm ownership. California and Colorado have already implemented a gun tax to fund their gun control efforts and dismantle the Second Amendment. This legislation by Senator Risch and Representatives Issa and Hudson would prevent these blatant and egregious attacks on the rights of Americans, and the National Rifle Association is proud to support this legislation.”

The NRA Institute for Legislative Action has expressed its endorsement for the measures introduced by Risch, Issa, and Hudson.

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