By Larry Keane, National Shooting Sports Foundation
The Seattle City Council is expected to take up an ill-advised proposal that will impose a $25 tax on each firearm and a nickel tax on every round of ammunition sold by a retailer in Seattle. Proposed by anti-gun Council President Tim Burgess, the so-called “Gun Violence Tax” ordinance will have no effect on decreasing gun violence. It is designed to place a huge burden on legitimate firearms retailers and law-abiding gun owners. The City Council is expected to take up the proposed ordinance next Wednesday, July 15.
The proposed ordinance would impose a tax on those “engaging in the business if making retail sales of firearms and ammunition,” requiring federally licensed firearms dealers to pay an additional imposed tax rate of “$25 per firearm sold at retail and $.05 per round of ammunition sold at retail.” A $.05 tax on ammunition is absurd, because in some cases that could be more than the cost of the product itself. The proposed ordinance is nothing but a “poll tax” on the Second Amendment and an effort to drive Seattle’s firearms retailers out of business.
The proposed “Gun Violence Tax” ordinance would violate Washington’s firearms preemption statute (RCW 9.41.290) which states, “The state of Washington hereby fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms… including the registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, acquisition, transfer…”
Emails to the Council can be sent to council@seattle.gov. We also included Council President Tim Burgess’s contact information below. As the author of the proposed ordinance, we are sure Mr. Burgess would enjoy hearing from you.
City Council Email – council@seattle.gov
Tim Burgess, Council President – 206-684-8806 – tim.burgess@seattle.gov