We’ve chronicled over the past several months how anti-gun politicians in several less gun-friendly states have passed, or are trying to pass, legislation levying additional taxes on the purchase of guns, ammunition and gun-related gear. In fact, during last year’s elections, Colorado voters approved a referendum that will impose an additional 6.5% excise tax on dealer sales of firearms, ammunition and accessories.
California also has such a law, an 11% excise tax, which is basically a sin tax, although owning guns is constitutionally protected, not a “sin.” Still, anti-gunners seem to love raising money from lawful gun owners at any opportunity.
The movement has gained so much momentum that last August, U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, and U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California, introduced the “Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act,” a measure that would prohibit states from implementing excise taxes on firearms and ammunition to fund gun control programs.
That said, it’s refreshing when a freedom-loving state bucks the trend by doing just the opposite—exactly what Florida is doing this summer. On January 31, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis released his new budget, which includes an extended tax holiday for those purchasing firearms, ammo and accessories.
According to a report at Tallahassee.com, DeSantis’s “Second Amendment Summer” would eliminate sales tax on the purchase of guns, ammunition and accessories from Memorial Day to the 4th of July. Accessories subject to the tax holiday will include items “commonly used for firearms, such as charging handles, cleaning kits, holsters, optics, pistol grips, and stock, but excluding apparel.”
“I think this is going to be wildly popular,” DeSantis said in response to a question about whether he expects pushback from the legislature on the gun sales tax holiday. “Why would they want to fight back on that? This is something their voters would expect them to support.”
Of course, there are always naysayers for any good pro-gun idea. Enter Cathy Swerdlow, chair of the League of Women Voters’ gun violence action prevention team. Swerdlow is trying to rally opposition to the tax holiday.
“What we really need is a tax holiday on gun safes and trigger locks, so that people who have guns can store them appropriately,” Swerdlow sarcastically told wptv.com.
Fortunately, Swerdlow and others against the proposal can rest easy. All new guns sold by federal firearms licensees come complete with a trigger lock included.
The governor’s office estimates that “Second Amendment Summer” could save Floridians as much as $8 million on gun and ammunition purchases. Those savings, if pumped into the economy in other manners, could help create an economic boom just the opposite of what adding taxes to firearms does.
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