The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Is the firearms excise tax a tax on a fundamental right?

boxcab · July 24, 2010, 06:54 AM

Some of you need to stop and understand what an excise tax is. It is not a sales tax, though it is generally associated with the transfer.

The excise tax is a 10 to 11% Federal tax levied by the BATF on every gun and round of ammunition, just because they are guns and ammunition. The CLAIM is that the excise tax is used to build ranges, etc. There are no Federal Ranges in my state and only two State run ranges that I am aware of.

Sales tax is usually not associated with just one item or commodity. Sales tax is not punitive in nature, excise taxes are.

No one taxes your ability to speak while standing on a street corner, but the excise tax is equivalent to just that. You pay taxes to build and maintain said street corner, but you are not taxed each time you use it.

You may have paid a sales tax when you bought your CB in your truck, but you are not taxed each time you use it. You also did not pay an additional excise tax on it.

You may pay sales tax when you buy a news paper, but you are not taxed each time you open it. The gun and ammo excise tax does just that.

If gun ownership is a fundamental right then an excise tax in order to use that right is wrong and illegal. A sales tax is not, because it applies to everything and not aimed at just this right.

There is a difference. The said part is that most gun owners do not even know that the US Gov, through the BATF, adds 10% to every gun and ammo purchase you make. It does not show up on the bill because it is hidden in the cost of manufacture.

-Boxcab

July 24, 2010, 06:54 AM	#16
boxcab Member Join Date: September 20, 2005 Posts: 39	Wow Some of you need to stop and understand what an excise tax is. It is not a sales tax, though it is generally associated with the transfer. The excise tax is a 10 to 11% Federal tax levied by the BATF on every gun and round of ammunition, just because they are guns and ammunition. The CLAIM is that the excise tax is used to build ranges, etc. There are no Federal Ranges in my state and only two State run ranges that I am aware of. Sales tax is usually not associated with just one item or commodity. Sales tax is not punitive in nature, excise taxes are. No one taxes your ability to speak while standing on a street corner, but the excise tax is equivalent to just that. You pay taxes to build and maintain said street corner, but you are not taxed each time you use it. You may have paid a sales tax when you bought your CB in your truck, but you are not taxed each time you use it. You also did not pay an additional excise tax on it. You may pay sales tax when you buy a news paper, but you are not taxed each time you open it. The gun and ammo excise tax does just that. If gun ownership is a fundamental right then an excise tax in order to use that right is wrong and illegal. A sales tax is not, because it applies to everything and not aimed at just this right. There is a difference. The said part is that most gun owners do not even know that the US Gov, through the BATF, adds 10% to every gun and ammo purchase you make. It does not show up on the bill because it is hidden in the cost of manufacture. -Boxcab