Seattle to tax guns and bullets. Is this an option to slow down gun violence which will work?

2015-08-11T18:23:59-04:00

Is this the answer to help eliminate gun violence, or is it for raising money for the city coffers? You decide!

The City Council unanimously passed a special tax on Monday, and Mayor Ed Murray signaled his support for the measure. The new law will impose a $25 tax on guns and a 5-cent tax on bullets sold within the city limits. Lawmakers called it a "gun violence tax" because proceeds would be used for prevention and research programs to reduce gun violence in Seattle.
The law is based on a similar $25 gun tax that passed in Cook County, Illinois, in 2013. The Seattle budget office estimates the law will raise $300,000 to $500,000 a year.

http://money.cnn.com/2015/08/11/news/economy/seattle-gun-tax/index.html?iid=ob_homepage_deskrecommended_pool&iid=obnetwork

Seattle city council passes $25 gun tax

Guns and bullet tax revenue will be used for gun violence prevention.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 11 at 2015 6:28 PM

2015-08-11T18:28:02-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member Like my proposed 6 step program this will probably generate some revenue, but like have most said will it decrease violence. Even those who acquire a weapon for the right reasons can become criminals in the future or those weapons can get in the wrong hands if not properly safeguarded and used to commit a crime. I would love to see what the program does statically 2 years from now

Response by Cpl Dennis F. made Aug 11 at 2015 6:47 PM

2015-08-11T18:47:19-04:00

Yeah.....this has worked real well for Cook County!

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Aug 11 at 2015 6:48 PM

2015-08-11T18:48:40-04:00

Why buy guns inside the city then? People will just buy their ammo outside the city, and guns as well if they can.

In turn, because they estimated how much revenue they would receive they will increase the tax to compensate, because they didn't make it.

Response by SFC Everett Oliver made Aug 11 at 2015 9:05 PM

2015-08-11T21:05:40-04:00

Sounds like another poor attempt at an end around the second amendment to me.....

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Aug 11 at 2015 9:20 PM

2015-08-11T21:20:55-04:00

Whatever the intended purpose of this legislation, just chalk it up as a FAIL! Will it decrease gun violence? I doubt that even those who proposed this legislation believe that. Will it raise tax revenues to offset the costs of gun violence? No, of course not. As many have already pointed out, gun and ammo sales will just move to the next jurisdiction where it isn't taxed (and the gun sellers will move where the trade goes so they lose that income as well). Thus they can expect tax revenues to decrease. And, of course, the lion's share of any tax revenue realized will be diverted into the pockets of the bureaucrats administering the program. Yep, this is just another failure based on first order problem solving. No, to be fair, it doesn't even rise to the level of thinking on the first order, does it?

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 11 at 2015 9:24 PM

2015-08-11T21:24:14-04:00

No it's not. It's an attempt to force gun owners to give up their guns by taxing legal gun owners.

Response by SSG Donald Mceuen made Aug 12 at 2015 8:10 AM

2015-08-12T08:10:39-04:00

Did it work with alcohal or ciggerates no.
Most guns used in crimes are not bought leagely any way..

Response by COL Ted Mc made Aug 12 at 2015 1:53 PM

2015-08-12T13:53:42-04:00

SGT Private RallyPoint Member - Sergeant; The Bothell Chamber of Commerce has congratulated the Seattle City Council on its sagacious and forward looking new policy.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Aug 12 at 2015 3:19 PM

2015-08-12T15:19:51-04:00

Should've just ran the football......

Response by Capt Christian D. Orr made Aug 12 at 2015 3:23 PM

2015-08-12T15:23:09-04:00

In a word, NO!!! Just more politically correct socialist tax-whoring and gun-grabbing. Bloody Seattle grunge hippies.

Response by SFC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 12 at 2015 3:26 PM

2015-08-12T15:26:27-04:00

Only to be expected coming out of Seattle these days....

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Aug 12 at 2015 4:42 PM

2015-08-12T16:42:48-04:00

And how is this supposed cut down on gun violence? If I really want to legally acquire a gun, another $25 is not going to stop me.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 13 at 2015 12:17 PM

2015-08-13T12:17:07-04:00

Remember, the only taxes paid will be by citizens who purchase weapons and ammo legally, this will not affect the back alley deals.

Once again the law-biding citizen is being punished.

Response by Capt Richard I P. made Aug 13 at 2015 4:50 PM

2015-08-13T16:50:12-04:00

Sure, why would criminals cheat on their taxes or patronize a black market?

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 12:18 PM

2015-08-26T12:18:29-04:00

I'll be honest I don't really get it. They passed a tax, they didn't ban anything. Whether you think it's a reasonable tax or not (and probably not, but maybe) doesn't make it legal or illegal.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 12:19 PM

2015-08-26T12:19:50-04:00

No, it just means gun shops will move right outside of the Seattle tax zone. Also, criminals don't think "hmmm, don't want to shoot that guy, bullets and guns cost too much." This is just another piece of feel good legislation that does nothing but hurt law abiding citizens.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 12:41 PM

2015-08-26T12:41:48-04:00

Well, since society nowadays wants to blame everyone else for other peoples crimes/mistakes/whatever, why not throw responsibility on those that are not at fault. I mean, what could go wrong with that?

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Aug 26 at 2015 12:44 PM

2015-08-26T12:44:51-04:00

While I don't see a tax placed on weapons as an infringement on one's right to own a gun anymore than having to pay sales tax is an infringement on my right to own a huge HD TV; I would say that it will not really impact gun violence. We all know that most bad guys don't get their guns from a legit weapons dealer unless you classify the trunk of an old Oldsmobile as a legit store front. And even if they did, nothing is stopping them from going to another city or state that doesn't have this tax and taking the weapon back into Seattle. Yet again, the government taking much needed time to "do something" rather than addressing the issues in an effective way.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 1:04 PM

2015-08-26T13:04:46-04:00

Gun owners will just have to drive a little farther to by their guns and ammo now. The criminals who are committing the majority of these crimes are not buying the guns and ammo legally within city limits anyways so I don't see this being very profitable.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 26 at 2015 1:15 PM

2015-08-26T13:15:05-04:00

*Sarcasm*This is an outstanding approach to reduce gun violence! Lets go a step furthur by taxing cars and alcohol sales to reduce drunk driving! Lets also tax baseball bats, golf clubs, machettees, chain saws, hammers, all sorts of devices that has caused murders!

While we are at it, let us tax peoples' hands and feet as those cause more murders than guns!

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 26 at 2015 2:02 PM

2015-08-26T14:02:37-04:00

If the tax is high enough, only the rich will have guns. Read up on the states and communities with lax gun laws and crime. I always love the fact that those that find ways to try to limit access to firearms have extensive protection paid for by my taxes. Chicago has some of the toughest gun laws in the nation and the death rate is huge. No taxes aren't the answer.

Response by SGT William Howell made Dec 28 at 2015 10:01 AM

2015-12-28T10:01:58-05:00

What a great job. Cook County doesn't even have a gun store in it any more. Basically they are going to inconvenience gun owners into buying outside the city and having the gun stores sell or move. The whole time criminals will just keep doing what they do to get guns.

Response by SFC Pete Kain made Dec 28 at 2015 5:32 PM

2015-12-28T17:32:05-05:00

May as well tax flatware, forks make you fat... right?

Yes that was sarcasm.

Response by SFC Maury Gonzalez made Dec 28 at 2015 6:09 PM

2015-12-28T18:09:11-05:00

So the gang bangers will go to city Hall with the easter bunny to pay taxes now?

Response by SFC Jeffrey Couch made Dec 28 at 2015 8:00 PM

2015-12-28T20:00:43-05:00

It my believe sir that most ploys like this are to slow and even disable all veterans in the us so they could have national control over the population I could be wrong but it's not looking good

Response by SSG Paul Headlee made Sep 9 at 2020 9:00 AM

2020-09-09T09:00:12-04:00

5 years later... With the added advantage of hindsight: NO. But we already knew that 5 years ago.