NRA loses lawsuit in Seattle

[ksen]

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/judge-upholds-seattles-gun-and-ammunition-tax/

Seattle’s new tax on gun and ammunition sales can take effect on Jan. 1, a judge ruled Tuesday, siding with the city against the National Rifle Association.

. . .

Seattle City Council President Tim Burgess, who sponsored the city’s ordinance establishing the tax of $25 per gun and 2 or 5 cents per round of ammunition, commented after the decision.

And what does Seattle plan to do with the new tax revenues?

[A lawyer for the city of Seattle] said the point of the ordinance is to raise money to fund research and programs to curb gun violence, such as a gunshot-victim-intervention program — not to discourage the sale of firearms or impose gun control.

Ok, Seattle want to raise money from gun and ammo purchases to fund programs and research to help against gun violence.

Doesn't seem to far-fetched or too draconian.

NRA's stance?

“It’s unfortunate the court chose to ignore the law and embrace the Seattle City Council’s anti-gun agenda,” spokesman Lars Dalseide said in a statement.

“This is not the final word. We will keep fighting until all legal avenues are exhausted and the people of Seattle are free to exercise their Second Amendment rights without persecution from their elected officials.”

PERSECUTION!!11!1!!!

 

[funinspace]

LOL...yeah not a bad idea conceptually, making it like another sin tax. However, it is completely silly stuff. Washington state has no gun registration requirements as far as I can tell from a quick check. So who the hell will tell the city how many guns they own. And it isn't like most people in Seattle aren't close to another city. Most gun owners will probably be pissed off and go buy their ammo in the next city over.

 

[ksen]

Nobody has to tell anyone how many guns they own. It sounds like a tax that is collected at the register and remitted to the state by the seller just like a regular sales tax.

 

[Nexus]

And it isn't like most people in Seattle aren't close to another city.

Seattle has a large city limits geographic area. Unless you're at the edges its an annoying commute to leave the city.

 

[Tom Sawyer]

Nobody has to tell anyone how many guns they own. It sounds like a tax that is collected at the register and remitted to the state by the seller just like a regular sales tax.

Ya, it's sort of like extra taxes on cigarettes to help pay for health care. There are products which increase these costs, so the buyer of those products pay more to help defray those costs.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Nobody has to tell anyone how many guns they own. It sounds like a tax that is collected at the register and remitted to the state by the seller just like a regular sales tax.

Ya, it's sort of like extra taxes on cigarettes to help pay for health care. There are products which increase these costs, so the buyer of those products pay more to help defray those costs.

Yeah--a good idea in theory, a bad idea in practice. The problem is the government uses such things as a general revenue source and thus the taxes actually end up causing the politicians to not want to lower whatever they put the sin tax on.

For the ultimate example, see the tobacco settlement. What politician is going to implement effective anti-smoking measures when it will cost them revenue.

 

[Deepak]

Four gang members do a drive-by, with 3 firing ten rounds into a building each (the fourth was the driver). Additional cost $1.50

Uncle Joe-Bob wants to go plinking with his nephew and he picks up a brick of .22lr. Additional cost $25 (effectively doubling the price)

Maybe we could save some time and just make our laws based on whichever suggestion gets the most retweets.