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OIF/OEF vet (Ramadi/Hit & Ghazni)
Former Army infantry squad leader
NRA Endowment Life Member
NR-EMT
Sorry I could not link directly to this story as it was from a members only L/E site, but I'm sure it can be verified easy enough if needed through Google or Bing.
Not a new topic but shows how Obama or Romney could follow suit with a federal tax on ammunition.
CHICAGO As Chicago struggles to quell gang violence that has contributed to a jump in homicides, a top elected official wants to tax the sale of every bullet and firearm an effort even she acknowledges could spark a legal challenge.
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will submit a budget proposal Thursday that calls for a tax of a nickel for each bullet and $25 for each firearm sold in the nation's second-largest county, which encompasses Chicago.
In this Jan. 26, 2012 file photo, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle speaks at a news conference in Chicago. On Thursday, Oct. 18, 2012, Preckwinkle is set to propose a tax on bullets. She will propose five cents a bullet and a dollar for a box of 20 of them and 25 bucks per firearm.
Preckwinkle's office estimates the tax will generate about $1 million a year, money that would be used for various county services including medical care for gunshot victims. Law enforcement officials would not have to pay the tax, but the office said it would apply to 40 federally licensed gun dealers in the county.
Through last week, the city reported 409 homicides this year compared to 324 during the same period in 2011. Although the violence still doesn't approach the nearly 900 homicides a year Chicago averaged in the 1990s, officials say gang violence was largely to blame for a rash of shootings earlier this year.
Preckwinkle insists the ordinance is far more about addressing gun violence than raising money for a county that faces a deficit of more than $100 million next year.
"We think that's an appropriate thing to do, especially in the light of the gun violence we struggle to deal with in our criminal justice system and our public health system," she told a local newspaper editorial board this week, according to a transcript of the meeting provided by her office. "The legal gun shops in suburban Cook County are a conduit for crimes in Chicago. There's no way around it."
Preckwinkle declined to speak with The Associated Press ahead of the announcement Thursday, but her spokeswoman Kristen Mack confirmed the details of the plan.
Mack said the office has found no other jurisdiction in the nation that has imposed a tax on bullets, even though several have considered it. Legislation on such a tax was previously introduced by state lawmakers in Springfield, but it was never been voted on, she said.
Richard Pearson, the executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, scoffs at such talk, saying the tax wouldn't do anything to address gang violence but would harm local businesses and law-abiding citizens.
"If she wants to get to the people causing all the problems she ought to put a tax on street gangs," he said. "All this is going to do is drive business out of Cook County, into other counties, Indiana and Wisconsin."
One suburban gun shop owner agreed, saying that his customers, many of whom are hunters and police officers, will simply go elsewhere.
"Who's going to come to Tinley Park to buy ammunition," said Fred Lutger, the owner of Freddie Bear Sport in that suburban Chicago community.
And, said Lutger of that money going toward treating gunshot victims, "Why should be paying for gang bangers shooting each other? You're taxing law-abiding citizens for what criminals are doing."
Gun rights advocates spent years challenging in court Chicago's handgun ban, which was ultimately overturned in 2010 by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Lutger said a lawsuit was certain. Pearson said he and others started talking about a legal challenge as soon as they heard Preckwinkle was considering the tax.
Even Preckwinkle seemed resigned to a legal challenge in her comments to the newspaper board.
"You can't make decisions based on the basis of whether or not somebody's going to sue you or then you'll never do anything," she said.
We are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others, by their acts.
Please don't think for a second that an AW ban or other 2A restrictions couldn't be implemented. The Clinton ban of 1994 was recent proof that it can happen.
Obummer's main focus was jobs, housing, economy, Iraq, healthcare, etc. during his first term. Not that he did a good job at any of these issues but those seemed to be his focus. A gun ban was not a priority in comparison.
In 2008, we all witnessed the gun buying frenzy which cleaned out inventory nationwide. I remember as stated above stripped lowers selling for $400 just prior to the election. 5.56 had reached $.80 per round & 7.62 had reached $1 per round for standard stuff & people were fighting over it. Half of the people I spoke with before the last election stated that Obama would not go after guns during his 1st term. He would loose credebility by doing so & potentially jeopordize his chances of a 2nd term. But if it looks like he has a chance to win a 2nd term, then panic. Here we are at a 2nd term & it's a tight race. I imagine those same people who didn't stockpile in 08 are doing so now. Plus Romney doesn't have a stellar history on 2A rights.
Now add the folks who think the world is going to evaporate due to the Myan predictions coming up & this will add to the chaos.
But overall, I'm surprized availability is as decent as it is this close to the election. BCM stil has a variety of uppers & bolts in stock. Ammo seems to be available still as well. I thought, compared to this time in 08, that everything would be backordered & what was available would be selling for 2-3X retail. Go figure.
Join Gun Owners of America Here
Fear causes hesitation and hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true. - The Bodasafa
In no way do I make any money from anyone related to the firearms industry.
"I have never heard anyone say after a firefight that I wish that I had not taken so much ammo.", ME
"Texas can make it without the United States, but the United States can't make it without Texas !", General Sam Houston
The repubs still have the house. And hopefully some of the other congressional elections will swing their way. My hope is, if BO gets reelected we will have two years at least before an actual law will get passed. Now an executive order well thats something different. Especially since he has no problems pushing e.o.s and I believe BO has set a record with those.
AND . . . let's not forget about UN Small Arms Treaty Passes.
"In a nut shell, if it ever goes to Civil War, I'm afraid I'll be in the middle 70%, shooting at both sides" 26 Inf
"We have to stop demonizing people and realize the biggest terror threat in this country is white men, most of them radicalized to the right, and we have to start doing something about them." CNN's Don Lemon 10/30/18
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