South OC Times

This week, U.S. legislators introduced a bill aimed at prohibiting states from imposing excise taxes on firearms and ammunition intended to fund gun control initiatives. Congressman Darrell Issa from California, Congressman Richard Hudson from North Carolina, and Senator Jim Risch from Idaho spearheaded the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act.

Congressman Issa expressed concern over states implementing such taxes, particularly criticizing policies from his own state, California. "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 stated. He described California’s new ‘sin tax’ on firearms and ammunition as an "outrageous and unfair burden on law-abiding citizens."

Congressman Hudson echoed Issa's sentiments, stating, "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."

Senator Risch also voiced his opposition to these taxes. "Blue states that implement an excessive excise tax to fund gun control initiatives are exploiting the Second Amendment," he said. "The Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act ensures states do not place a significant financial burden on law-abiding gun owners to advance their anti-Second Amendment agenda."

California introduced an 11% excise tax on firearms in 2024 as part of a program to reduce firearm purchases and support gun control measures. Colorado plans to implement a 6.5% tax in April 2025. Other states, including Maryland, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and New Mexico, have proposed similar measures.

The new legislation has support from various lawmakers and organizations. Congressman Doug LaMalfa and multiple U.S. Senators, among them Mike Crapo, Marsha Blackburn, and Lindsey Graham, support the bill. Support also comes from the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

John Commerford of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action 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. Senator Risch’s bill would prevent these blatant and egregious attacks on the rights of Americans."