California is always at the forefront of the national conversation on gun control, and Governor Gavin Newsom is a prominent figure in pushing for strict regulations. California’s plasticized Governor signed Assembly Bill 28 which directly assaults law-abiding American citizens’ by adding a state tax to firearm or ammunition purchases.
California Assembly Bill 28—
The federal government already imposes a 10-12% tax on all firearm purchases. But the new California law is the first time where a state will impose another tax on any person who wants to purchase a firearm or ammunition.
The relevant part of the law does the following things:
- -impose an excise tax in the amount of 11% of the gross receipts from the retail sale in this state of a firearm
- -impose an excise tax in the amount of 11% of the gross receipts from the retail sale in this state of a firearm precursor part
- -impose an excise tax in the amount of 11% of the gross receipts from the retail sale in this state of ammunition
- -require that the revenues collected be deposited in the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Fund
- -moneys received in the fund to be used to fund various gun violence prevention, education, research, response, and investigation programs
- -require each licensed firearms dealer, firearms manufacturer, and ammunition vendor to register with the department for a certificate
- -provide procedures for the issuance, revocation, and reinstatement of a permit
Newsom Thinks Owning a Gun is a Sin, and deserves a “Sin Tax”
The term “sin tax” is typically used to discourage certain behaviors or activities that are deemed socially undesirable, such as smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. However, it’s important to recognize that owning a firearm is a constitutional right protected by the Second Amendment.
Applying a sin tax to firearms implies that gun ownership is inherently sinful or undesirable, which undermines the principles of our nation. It is a disservice to the millions of law-abiding citizens who exercise their right to bear arms responsibly and for legitimate reasons such as self-defense, hunting, and sport shooting.
A Burden on Law-Abiding Citizens
Newsom’s proposed gun tax unfairly targets law-abiding citizens. By imposing additional financial burdens on those who seek to exercise their Second Amendment rights, this policy creates an unnecessary obstacle for individuals who follow the law.
Criminals steal the vast majority of guns they use in crimes. This “sin tax” does not affect these criminals, only law-abiding citizens.
Furthermore, a tax like this disproportionately impacts lower-income individuals who struggle to afford the additional costs associated with gun ownership. This regressive approach contradicts the goal of ensuring equal access to self-defense for all citizens, regardless of their economic status.
An Ineffective Solution to Gun Violence
Advocates of the gun tax argue that it will generate revenue to fund programs aimed at reducing gun violence. While this may sound appealing in theory, it’s important to scrutinize the effectiveness of such a claim.
I recently wrote on how gun control advocates use the term “gun violence” deceptively to disarm law-abiding citizens.
Understanding Gun Violence: Numbers, Context, and Solutions
Government Programs, Doomed to Fail-
Anyone who thinks “government programs” to study or reduce gun violence is sadly nieve. No matter how much money they throw at the problem of violence, it will fail because the progressive leaders in California don’t want to address violence. They just want to disarm their constituents. In this respect, they have been effective.
I am convinced that these programs will funnel a lot of money to bogus organizations run by friends and associates of California lawmakers, and do nothing to focus any real help to fix mental health, or address the lawlessness and broken California criminal justice system that encourages crime.
Finally
If you want to read the entire bill, you can do so here.
While the goal of reducing gun violence is undoubtedly a noble one, Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed gun tax is evil, misguided and counterproductive approach. For a leader to purposefully make the people they govern more vulnerable to criminals, while encouraging those criminals, is not just wrong, but it is evil.
I moved out of California in 2014, and I am so glad I did. I wonder how much longer will Californian’s put up with this type of garbage.
California Assembly Bill 28 unfairly targets law-abiding citizens, places an undue financial burden on those with limited means, and ultimately does nothing root causes of gun violence.