ACTION ALERT from the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF):"
Stop Seattle's Anti-Second Amendment TaxSeattle City Council Seeks to Impose Illegal Antigun Tax on Firearms and Ammunition Sold by Retailers 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 (
http://www.seattle.gov/council/Burgess/attachments/Gun-Safety-Ordinances.pdf) 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.
Please contact the Seattle City Council TODAY!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) (
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=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...”
Please contact members of the Seattle City Council (
http://www.seattle.gov/council/councilcontact.htm) immediately and respectfully urge them to oppose this misguided “Gun Violence Tax” proposal. 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 President206-684-8806
tim.burgess@seattle.gov
Additionally, we have included a form letter below that can be emailed to the City Council. ****
Dear City Council Members,
I write to you today to express my extreme displeasure with a proposed ordinance that essentially seeks to hold me accountable for the actions of criminals. The “Gun Violence Tax” ordinance, proposed by Council President Tim Burgess, will in no way reduce gun violence as criminals do not legally purchase guns. However, law-abiding gun owners and legitimate businesses engaged in the lawful commerce of firearms and ammunition will be burdened by this ordinance if enacted. This will ultimately hurt the City of Seattle because the revenues and sales taxes will be generated elsewhere.
The proposed ordinance clearly violates Washington state law (RCW 9.41.290) (
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=9.41.290)that provides that “The state of Washington hereby fully occupies and preempts the entire field of firearms... including the registration, licensing, possession, purchase, sale, acquisition, transfer...” If this proposal is enacted it invites a costly lawsuit that the city will certainly lose.
I respectfully urge you to oppose the misguided efforts of Council President Burgess and vote NO on the “Gun Violence Tax.”
Sincerely,
(
Your name here)"
