A judge upheld Seattle’s so-called gun violence tax Tuesday, rejecting a challenge from the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups.
King County Superior Court Judge Palmer Robinson dismissed arguments that Seattle’s tax, adopted last summer, exceeded the city’s authority under state law.
The measure — one of only a couple of its kind in the nation — adds $25 to the price of each firearm sold in the city, plus 2 or 5 cents per round of ammunition, depending on the type. Officials expect it to raise up to $500,000 a year to help offset the costs of gun violence. The measure is set to take effect next month.
“The NRA and its allies always oppose these commonsense steps to shine light on the gun violence epidemic,” said City Council President Tim Burgess, who sponsored the law. “Judge Robinson saw through the NRA’s distorted efforts to put gun industry profits ahead of public safety.”
"City officials estimate the new tax would bring in $300,000 to $500,000 a year, but gun shop owners told council members those numbers were inflated. They said the law would cost them customers and sales and could force them to move out of the city."
ReplyDeleteYes, look how well this sort of thing has worked in Chicago. I'll be surprised if they manage to reach that goal of $300k. All a person has to do is drive out of the city and not pay the tax. I also wonder if you cant avoid it by simply buying online. For example, I know that Amazon collects state sales taxes, but I really don't know if they go down to smaller jurisdictions.
"The City Council modeled the tax after a similar one in Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago; the NRA has said Chicago is the only other city with such a measure. The revenue would be used for gun safety research and gun violence prevention programs."
Emulating Chicago is almost always a bad decision. Lets look and see how well its worked there,
"Now consider this–Chicago’s “violence tax” went into effect in April 2013. Months later, CBS Chicago reported number of homicides in Chicago for 2013 came in at 415. People cheered! The tax is working! Violence has abated!
Then came 2014, the first full calendar year after the implementation of the tax, and the Chicago Tribune reported 434 deaths–a 19 death increase.
Then came the first six months of 2015, and Chicago’s ABC 7 reported that “murders and shooting are up.” For example, “in June of 2015, there were 13 more homicides in Chicago than June of 2014.” In all, USA Today reported the homicide rate in Chicago jumped “19 percent” and “shooting incidents” rose “21 percent” in the first six months of 2015."
http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2015/08/12/chicago-enacted-same-gun-tax-as-seattle-and-homicides-are-up/
Amazing how you think any town will be the same as Chicago.
DeleteWell Anon, how exactly does someone justify adopting a program that doesn't accomplish what its supposed to where its been tried before?
Delete"The City Council modeled the tax after a similar one in Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago; the NRA has said Chicago is the only other city with such a measure."
Delete"Amazing how you think any town will be the same as Chicago."
Well Anon, looks like there's a possibility that Chicago wont be like Chicago in the taxing arena. And maybe this will spread to Washington and settle Seattle's hash so to speak,
"HB 4348 seeks to remove the power of local governments and municipalities to impose a sales tax on firearm and ammunition purchases.
This legislation would also void the currently standing firearm and ammunition sales tax in the City of Chicago."
http://www.ammoland.com/2016/01/258738/#axzz3yIuPbR6R
So perhaps soon, Chicago wont have so many special dispensations to following state law.