Washington state Democrats seeking to tax citizens for the ‘privilege’ of ammunition

Washington Examiner ^ | 1/11/24 | Luke Gentile

[Libloather]

Democrats in Washington state are seeking to tax citizens for the “privilege” of using ammunition in a move conservatives are blasting as the Left’s latest attack on the Second Amendment.

Citing a purported persistent health and safety threat posed by gun violence in Washington, a band of Democrats in the Evergreen State referred House Bill 2238 to the state legislature’s committee on finance on Tuesday.

If passed, the legislation would impose a use and sales tax on ammunition throughout the state, according to the bill text.

“‘Ammunition’ means any projectiles with their fuses, propelling charges, or primers designed to be fired from firearms,” the bill text reads. “‘Ammunition’ includes any shotgun shell and any rifle, pistol, or revolver cartridge.”

Under the legislation, a tax would be levied on every retail sale of ammunition in addition to the current federal, state, and local sales and use taxes already imposed on the sale of goods and services, according to the legislation.

“A use tax is levied on every person in this state for the privilege of using ammunition as a consumer at the rate of 11 percent of the selling price,” House Bill 2238 reads.

“The tax imposed under this section does not apply to sales to state, local, or tribal governments for the purposes of supplying law enforcement agencies.”

Earnings collected as a result of the legislation would be put toward funding programs to stymie the aforementioned and alleged threat of gun violence in the Democratic-controlled state.

[Libloather]

'Ammunition' can also mean what the wife remembers you saying 23 years ago. If only there was a way to tax that.

[econjack]

I bet Montana sees an uptick in ammo sales.

[packagingguy]

While we are being invaded by people who have been freed from prisons and mental institutions worldwide the politicians want to come for our guns and ammunition.

Is it not crystal clear they hate us and would prefer us broke or dead and our kids raped and brainwashed?

[Taxman]

Somehow, someway, We the People need to convince our fellow citizens that anti-2A speech is hate speech, and criminalize it as such!

Then throw EVERY anti-2A speaker in prison for hate speech crime!

[Uncle Miltie]

Interstate commerce.

How I buy.

[Disambiguator]

I bet Montana sees an uptick in ammo sales.

Idaho too.

[DeplorablePaul]

The Oregon courts are kept busy overturning anti 2A laws passed by the fanatics in the legislature.

[MNnice]

Ironically, I bought my first handgun in Washington (Seattle) in 1971 by paying the sporting goods store clerk $140 and walking out the door with it. No ID, no background check, just a purchase like any other in the store. I bought the S&W .38 Chief’s Special, a holster and a box of ammo for less than $200. I was active duty military and needed a walking-around weapon.