1,000% AR-15 Tax

Aaron Spuler is a firearms enthusiast and recreational shooter. Follow more or his work at The Weapon Blog

Beyer’s proposal would tax AR-15 model weapons and other firearms considered “assault” weapons according to terms set out in a separate bill from Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.), Breyer’s office told The Hill.

That act defines such firearms as “military-style assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines,” according to a press release from Cicilline at the time of its introduction in March of last year.

Instead of completely banning assault weapons, Beyer’s proposal would impose a 1,000 percent tax on the weapons for manufacturers, producers, and importers. The bill would exempt government entities like law enforcement at the federal, state and local levels, as well as the military.

The price for new AR-15-style guns range $500 to more than $2,000, according to NBC News. As such, a 1,000 percent tax on the would increase the price of those weapons to anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000.

Gun control legislation would have to meet a 60-vote threshold to overcome a filibuster in the Senate, making passage highly unlikely even if all 50 Democrats are united.

However, a tax would be more likely to be allowed to move through budget reconciliation, which would only require 50 votes to pass.

“Taxes get more deference in budget reconciliation than other policies from a parliamentarian point of view,” Zach Moller, director of Third Way’s economic program, told Business Insider.

Read the rest of the article: https://thehill.com/news/house/3512671-beyer-to-propose-1000-percent-tax-on-assault-style-weapons/