Another bite at the bullet tax, or where do they find these clowns?

**Mike Irwin** · July 19, 2011, 11:36 AM

Candidate for mayor in Baltimore thinks he can reduce crime in the city by imposing a $1 per tax on bullets (not cartridges) purchased in the city.

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/28595846/detail.html

Yikes.

mikejonestkd · July 19, 2011, 11:39 AM

Chris Rock already suggested this years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuX-nFmL0II

NOT safe for work.

NJgunowner · July 19, 2011, 11:39 AM

What a moof.

People will do what I do, BUY ONLINE.

aarondhgraham · July 19, 2011, 11:47 AM

Back in 1995 they tied to impose a huge tax on ammunition,,,
Someone took them to court about it.

The tax never got levied.

Aarond

csmsss · July 19, 2011, 01:44 PM

It's a meaningless statement. Even if he were amble to somehow get such a tax imposed, it would be ludicrously simple to get around it by leaving Bafltimore City and nuying ammo in one of the neighboring counties.

wogpotter · July 19, 2011, 02:17 PM

So this is going to work the same way that taxing alcohol reduced drinking & taxing tobacco reduced smoking?

Things you won't hear on the streets of Balmer because of this :

" I wuz gonna cap yo azz fer strayin onto my turf, but I can't spring the bucks fer boolitt tips now so run mofo, run!"

C'mon Candidate Rolley, no-one is falling for this, the poll in the article is running Yes 195 votes 4% No 4527 votes 96%
What a moroon.

LockedBreech · July 19, 2011, 02:31 PM

After McDonald and Heller, I think such a tax could run into Constitutional troubles. Recall the Federal court that overturned Chicago's ban on gun ranges? The court said that practicing with a gun is integral to owning one, so that wasn't constitutional. Bullets are needed for such practice, and paying godawful obscene amounts of money per bullet grinds up against the SCOTUS ruling and puts such a tax under heightened scrutiny.

Sefner · July 19, 2011, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csmsss

It's a meaningless statement. Even if he were amble to somehow get such a tax imposed, it would be ludicrously simple to get around it by leaving Bafltimore City and nuying ammo in one of the neighboring counties.

This is what I first thought when I read it. He's not serious, he's just pandering. To who I don't really know, but now that this story is on Drudge he's going to have a fun time trying to explain it.

I was surprised at this part, though:

Quote:

"Increasing the cost of guns won't work, because many criminals don't purchase new guns, and they can be borrowed or even rented in some areas," his plan states.

First, where can you rent a gun and take it out in public? Second, he applies some great logic in that criminals do not buy guns, they steal or borrow them. But why does he stop there and not apply it to ammunition? Criminals can steal or borrow ammo just as easily, if not more easily (no penalty for possession of ammunition) than guns...

SHNOMIDO · July 19, 2011, 03:25 PM

"guns...can be...rented in some areas"

Uh...what? Forgive me if this is common in other areas but here in IL, and I've also spent time in TN and TX, I've never heard of a problem where a criminal used a "rented gun". What does this even mean? Out of that whole article i found this to be the most ignorant thing in it. Implying around the corner from the car rental place is the gun rental place, where you can plop down $20 and rent a pistol for the afternoon.

No wonder crime is so bad in major cities, they need to shut down the gun rental stores...

claymore1500 · July 19, 2011, 05:53 PM

"Rent-a-center"(fire)

Eghad · July 19, 2011, 06:07 PM

Did it ever occur to the Mayor that by punishing criminals and felons who misuse guns he might reduce gun crime?

By taxing a box of bullets $1.00 he is only punishing the law abiding folks who buy them.

We had a local thug shoot into a crowd of people and was eventually stopped by the police. he got 8 years in the federal pen on top on top of his other crimes by being a felon in posession of a firearm.

chasep255 · July 19, 2011, 09:02 PM

Say a box of 9mm costs $15. Now it costs $16. If I'm a criminal I won't be using those bullets too often since I don't go to the range for target practice. So the extra 2 cents per shot probably doesn't matter to me. Actually as a target shooter the extra dollar wouldn't bother me to much either except for the fact that some a**hole politician is making me pay it.

Davey · July 19, 2011, 09:23 PM

Does this guy really think he can make a $16 dollar box of 500+ count of .22LR cost over $500?

I wonder what he would consider to be actually futile.

maestro pistolero · July 19, 2011, 09:53 PM

Now that Ezell has gone down the road of designating that peripheral 2A behavior and items (like firing ranges) get elevated scrutiny like the 1A, we can only hope this passes. They will hear the sound of him being dope-slapped by the courts from Delaware.

Eghad · July 19, 2011, 10:05 PM

Its a no brainer.. you can put a $1,000 dollar a tax on a box of bullets it is not going to stop criminals from getting them. The sales would be through illicit markets just like drugs are now for the criminals. The candidate has removed all doubt of his stupidity and pandering for votes now.

After reading his facebook page he will probably keep silent on the issue again.

**Mike Irwin** · July 25, 2011, 06:57 AM

I couldn't find any comments on any of his facebook pages. He must have axed them all.

teeroux · July 25, 2011, 07:19 AM

What will it be next $1,000 tax to vote?

It would stand to reason if politicians could get one right taxed so could they the others.

Webleymkv · July 25, 2011, 05:40 PM

I wonder if his tax would make a box of ammo any more expensive than a kilo of cocaine (I don't use drugs, so I don't know what the going rate for them is)? Afterall, the price of cocaine doesn't seem to deter the criminal element from using it. Perhaps a better idea would be to institute a $10,000 fine every time a politician proposes something idiotic.

**Tom Servo** · July 25, 2011, 05:56 PM

Quote:

After McDonald and Heller, I think such a tax could run into Constitutional troubles.

You're correct. The Supreme Court has ruled before that special taxes on newspapers violate the exercise of the 1st Amendment. In the current legal climate, it's very possible they'd rule the same way on an ammunition tax.

The situation also opens the door for challenging the NFA on similar grounds, though I think we're a few years out from that.

Eghad · July 25, 2011, 06:25 PM

Quote:

I couldn't find any comments on any of his facebook pages. He must have axed them all.

My bad the comments were on the station page where the story was released.

Quote:

Minutes after WBALTV.com posted this story, our friends on Facebook swiftly shared their reaction.

Judy Lloyd wrote, "Taxing those trying to protect their homes or hunt? How about a tax on stupidity?"

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/politics/28595...#ixzz1TA9ELjIM

**Mike Irwin** · July 25, 2011, 07:58 PM

"My bad the comments were on the station page where the story was released."

That's where mine are, too.

oneoclock · July 31, 2011, 08:25 PM

I'll bet this mayoral candidate went to the same school as Joycelyn Elders, the Surgeon General during part of Clinton's administration. In a speech I heard her say we need to have safer bullets.

natman · August 1, 2011, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Say a box of 9mm costs $15. Now it costs $16.

The proposed tax is $1 per bullet. So your 50 round box of 9mm would cost $65.

stevelyn · August 1, 2011, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Another bite at the bullet tax, or where do they find these clowns?

Well, it IS Maryland and those clowns aren't exactly scarce there.

July 19, 2011, 11:36 AM	#1
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	Another bite at the bullet tax, or where do they find these clowns? Candidate for mayor in Baltimore thinks he can reduce crime in the city by imposing a $1 per tax on bullets (not cartridges) purchased in the city. http://www.wbaltv.com/news/28595846/detail.html Yikes. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 19, 2011, 11:39 AM	#2
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,716	Chris Rock already suggested this years ago: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuX-nFmL0II NOT safe for work. __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

July 19, 2011, 11:47 AM	#4
aarondhgraham Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2009 Location: Stillwater, OKlahoma Posts: 8,638	Riverside California already tried this,,, Back in 1995 they tied to impose a huge tax on ammunition,,, Someone took them to court about it. The tax never got levied. Aarond __________________ Never ever give an enemy the advantage of a verbal threat. Caje: The coward dies a thousand times, the brave only once. Kirby: That's about all it takes, ain't it? Aarond is good,,, Aarond is wise,,, Always trust Aarond! (most of the time)

July 19, 2011, 02:17 PM	#6
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	So this is going to work the same way that taxing alcohol reduced drinking & taxing tobacco reduced smoking? Things you won't hear on the streets of Balmer because of this : " I wuz gonna cap yo azz fer strayin onto my turf, but I can't spring the bucks fer boolitt tips now so run mofo, run!" C'mon Candidate Rolley, no-one is falling for this, the poll in the article is running Yes 195 votes 4% No 4527 votes 96% What a moroon. __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

July 19, 2011, 02:31 PM	#7
LockedBreech Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Rocky Mountain West Posts: 3,395	After McDonald and Heller, I think such a tax could run into Constitutional troubles. Recall the Federal court that overturned Chicago's ban on gun ranges? The court said that practicing with a gun is integral to owning one, so that wasn't constitutional. Bullets are needed for such practice, and paying godawful obscene amounts of money per bullet grinds up against the SCOTUS ruling and puts such a tax under heightened scrutiny. __________________ 16 Pistols, 5 Rifles, 1 Shotgun, no time to shoot them

July 19, 2011, 11:39 AM	#3
NJgunowner Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 1,254	What a moof. People will do what I do, BUY ONLINE.

July 19, 2011, 01:44 PM	#5
csmsss Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Orange, TX Posts: 3,078	It's a meaningless statement. Even if he were amble to somehow get such a tax imposed, it would be ludicrously simple to get around it by leaving Bafltimore City and nuying ammo in one of the neighboring counties.

July 19, 2011, 03:25 PM	#9
SHNOMIDO Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 423	"guns...can be...rented in some areas" Uh...what? Forgive me if this is common in other areas but here in IL, and I've also spent time in TN and TX, I've never heard of a problem where a criminal used a "rented gun". What does this even mean? Out of that whole article i found this to be the most ignorant thing in it. Implying around the corner from the car rental place is the gun rental place, where you can plop down $20 and rent a pistol for the afternoon. No wonder crime is so bad in major cities, they need to shut down the gun rental stores...

July 19, 2011, 05:53 PM	#10
claymore1500 Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2008 Location: northcoast, Ohio Posts: 260	"Rent-a-center"(fire) __________________ Where there's a will, I want to be in it.

July 19, 2011, 06:07 PM	#11
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,231	Did it ever occur to the Mayor that by punishing criminals and felons who misuse guns he might reduce gun crime? By taxing a box of bullets $1.00 he is only punishing the law abiding folks who buy them. We had a local thug shoot into a crowd of people and was eventually stopped by the police. he got 8 years in the federal pen on top on top of his other crimes by being a felon in posession of a firearm. __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

July 19, 2011, 09:02 PM	#12
chasep255 Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 727	Say a box of 9mm costs $15. Now it costs $16. If I'm a criminal I won't be using those bullets too often since I don't go to the range for target practice. So the extra 2 cents per shot probably doesn't matter to me. Actually as a target shooter the extra dollar wouldn't bother me to much either except for the fact that some a**hole politician is making me pay it.

July 19, 2011, 09:23 PM	#13
Davey Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2010 Location: Not far enough from Chicago Posts: 394	Does this guy really think he can make a $16 dollar box of 500+ count of .22LR cost over $500? I wonder what he would consider to be actually futile.

July 19, 2011, 09:53 PM	#14
maestro pistolero Senior Member Join Date: August 16, 2007 Posts: 2,153	Now that Ezell has gone down the road of designating that peripheral 2A behavior and items (like firing ranges) get elevated scrutiny like the 1A, we can only hope this passes. They will hear the sound of him being dope-slapped by the courts from Delaware.

July 19, 2011, 10:05 PM	#15
Eghad Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 6,231	Its a no brainer.. you can put a $1,000 dollar a tax on a box of bullets it is not going to stop criminals from getting them. The sales would be through illicit markets just like drugs are now for the criminals. The candidate has removed all doubt of his stupidity and pandering for votes now. After reading his facebook page he will probably keep silent on the issue again. __________________ Have a nice day at the range NRA Life Member

July 25, 2011, 06:57 AM	#16
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	I couldn't find any comments on any of his facebook pages. He must have axed them all. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 25, 2011, 07:19 AM	#17
teeroux Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 2006 Posts: 1,512	What will it be next $1,000 tax to vote? It would stand to reason if politicians could get one right taxed so could they the others.

July 25, 2011, 05:40 PM	#18
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	I wonder if his tax would make a box of ammo any more expensive than a kilo of cocaine (I don't use drugs, so I don't know what the going rate for them is)? Afterall, the price of cocaine doesn't seem to deter the criminal element from using it. Perhaps a better idea would be to institute a $10,000 fine every time a politician proposes something idiotic.

July 25, 2011, 07:58 PM	#21
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	"My bad the comments were on the station page where the story was released." That's where mine are, too. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

July 31, 2011, 08:25 PM	#22
oneoclock Junior Member Join Date: July 4, 2011 Location: SE PA Posts: 11	I'll bet this mayoral candidate went to the same school as Joycelyn Elders, the Surgeon General during part of Clinton's administration. In a speech I heard her say we need to have safer bullets.