In Washington state, Democrats are proposing a tax on citizens for the “privilege” of using ammunition, a move criticized by conservatives as the latest assault on the Second Amendment. Democrats in the Evergreen State have referred House Bill 2238 to the state legislature’s finance committee, citing a perceived ongoing health and safety threat from gun violence in Washington.
According to the bill text, if enacted, the legislation would impose a use and sales tax on ammunition statewide. The definition of “ammunition” in the bill includes any projectiles designed for firearms, encompassing shotgun shells, as well as rifle, pistol, or revolver cartridges.
The proposed legislation would introduce a tax on every retail sale of ammunition, in addition to existing federal, state, and local sales and use taxes.
The bill specifies a use tax of 11 percent of the selling price, applying to every individual in the state using ammunition as a consumer.
The tax would not be applicable to sales to state, local, or tribal governments for the purpose of supplying law enforcement agencies.
The revenue generated from this tax would be directed towards funding programs aimed at addressing the perceived threat of gun violence in the Democrat-controlled state.
The legislation specifies that earnings collected would support programs focused on preventing suicide and reducing firearm-related domestic violence.
