Tacoma, Washington Gun Tax Based on False Premises

By Dean Weingarten

U.S.A. –-(Ammoland.com)- In Tacoma, Washington, the City Council is proposing a special tax on guns and ammunition. From q13fox.com:

Tacoma is considering implementing a tax that would add $25 to all firearms purchase. The tax would also add 2 cents per round to ammunition purchases that is .22 Caliber or less and add 5 cents per round to all other ammunition.

Such a tax should be held unconstitutional because it chills the right to keep and bear arms, protected by both the U.S. Constitution and the Washington State Constitution.

The proposed tax seems to violate the state preemption statute. From leg.wa.gov:

RCW 9.41.290

State preemption.

The state of Washington hereby fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms regulation within the boundaries of the state, including the registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, acquisition, transfer, discharge, and transportation of firearms, or any other element relating to firearms or parts thereof, including ammunition and reloader components. Cities, towns, and counties or other municipalities may enact only those laws and ordinances relating to firearms that are specifically authorized by state law, as in RCW 9.41.300, and are consistent with …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand