Seattle Gun Violence Tax

[Ben]

I hadn't heard about this. The NRA is filing suit. Even if they didn't, would any gun owner in their right mind in Seattle actually pay $25 per gun and $0.05 per round of ammo versus driving out of the city limits to make the purchase?

http://twitchy.com/2015/08/24/nra-two-other-pro-second-amendment-groups-file-suit-against-seattles-new-gun-violence-tax/

[Perd Hapley]

A nickel per round. Wow. That's extreme. I guess they want all of their carry-permit folks to be terrible marksmen.

[Ben]

I was just thinking that it could be they don't care at all about the tax, but may want to be like San Francisco and just run the gun stores out of town.

[MillCreek]

http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=48893.0

A lot of the local people think that this is pretty much designed to eliminate gun stores within the Seattle city limits.  I think there are only three such stores left, anyhow.  If I recall correctly, it was passed by the City Council unanimously.

The money is supposed to go to 'ways to end gun violence' and to pay the local trauma hospital for the uncompensated care of the members of the Saturday Night Knife and Gun Club.

[Ben]

http://www.armedpolitesociety.com/index.php?topic=48893.0

A lot of the local people think that this is pretty much designed to eliminate gun stores within the Seattle city limits.  I think there are only three such stores left, anyhow.  If I recall correctly, it was passed by the City Council unanimously.

The money is supposed to go to 'ways to end gun violence' and to pay the local trauma hospital for the uncompensated care of the members of the Saturday Night Knife and Gun Club.

Just call me slow for missing the original thread. :)

[Perd Hapley]

I was just thinking that it could be they don't care at all about the tax, but may want to be like San Francisco and just run the gun stores out of town.

Obviously. I just find it funny that people who pretend they favor "gun safety," and who complain that folks carrying guns are un-trained/little-trained, don't realize the ammo tax discourages training and increases the chance of innocent bystanders being shot.

[Ben]

Obviously. I just find it funny that people who pretend they favor "gun safety," and who complain that folks carrying guns are un-trained/little-trained, don't realize the ammo tax discourages training and increases the chance of innocent bystanders being shot.

I just don't get what they think they gain (besides a smug expression) from running gun stores out of business in Seattle proper when a probably 5-15 mile drive would get you to dozens of places that sell guns.

I mean, I know it's to make their point, but it's such an illogical one. Sort of like Takoma Park in Maryland being a "nuclear free zone".

[Firethorn]

Given that at $0.05/round you're going to sell approximately zero rounds, though you might sell a fair number of guns even with a $25 tax on them (lower than many FFL transfer fees!), I wonder how long it would take to make up for the legal fees expected from fighting the NRA and company over this?

I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if they quickly end up 40k guns into the hole, meaning it would have been cheaper to just fund the places directly.

[Perd Hapley]

I just don't get what they think they gain (besides a smug expression) from running gun stores out of business in Seattle proper when a probably 5-15 mile drive would get you to dozens of places that sell guns.

I mean, I know it's to make their point, but it's such an illogical one. Sort of like Takoma Park in Maryland being a "nuclear free zone".

There's a certain lawyer that makes books/videos explaining Missouri laws concerning guns and self-defense. His catch-phrase is, "It doesn't have to make sense. It's the law."

If they were logical, they wouldn't favor gun control measures at all. They apparently believe that you owning a gun endangers other people, so you should help pay the damages. It's also likely they want to use this as an example for other cities and states, along with some drummed-up statistics that show a reduction in crime.