Central Louisiana News

On August 7, 2024, U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Jim Risch (R-ID), along with U.S. Representative Darrell Issa (R-CA-48) and six colleagues, introduced the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act. The bill aims to prohibit states from imposing excise taxes on firearms and ammunition intended to fund gun control programs.

"Americans’ constitutional rights exist no matter the state they live in," stated Dr. Cassidy. "Law-abiding citizens in blue states should not be punished with taxes for exercising their Second Amendment right."

Senator Risch echoed this sentiment, stating, "Democrats’ latest attack on the Second Amendment looks like an excessive excise tax to fund gun control initiatives. 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."

Representative Issa criticized California's new policy: "For years, extreme state policies and governors, including from my home state, have targeted the fundamental Second Amendment rights of our fellow Americans. California’s new imposition of a ‘sin tax’ on firearms and ammunition equates a core constitutional freedom with gambling or drug use. Enough is enough."

Effective July 1, 2024, California implemented a new 10-11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition to discourage purchases and fund gun control programs. These additional fees double the existing tax on these items. Similar taxes have been proposed in Colorado, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York.

Joining Cassidy, Risch, and Issa in introducing this legislation are U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Steve Daines (R-MT), Deb Fischer (R-NE), and U.S. Representative Richard Hudson (R-NC-09).

The Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act has garnered support from several organizations including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), and National Rifle Association (NRA).

Lawrence G. Keane of NSSF commented: "State efforts to levy excise taxes on firearms and ammunition at the point of sale are placing significant financial barriers to the lawful exercise of Constitutionally-protected rights... The firearm industry supports the federal Pittman-Robertson excise tax on firearms and ammunition that is solely administered for wildlife conservation..."

Similarly supportive was Randy Kozuch of NRA: "States like California... want to levy excise taxes on firearms and ammunition with the clear intent to punish law-abiding gun owners... [This] bill would prevent these blatant and egregious attacks on the rights of Americans..."

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