BOISE, Idaho — The Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act bill was introduced Thursday, August 1. According to the Jim Risch administration “This bill would prohibit states from implementing excise taxes on firearms and ammunition to fund gun control programs.”
States such as California, Colorado, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Washington and New York have imposed excise taxes on firearms.
Idaho itself is not on that list of imposing excise taxes and restrictions on guns, and is relatively gun friendly.
Idaho Senators are still pushing for this bill to pass.
"Some states are unfairly using tax policy to push an ill-founded, anti-gun agenda on gun owners," Senator Mike Crapo stated.
Darrel Issa, a representative from California, who is also sponsoring this bill, stated:
"For years, extreme state policies and governors, including from my home state, have targeted the fundamental Second Amendment rights of our fellow Americans. California's new imposition of a 'sin tax' on firearms and ammunition equates a core constitutional freedom with gambling or drug use. Enough is enough. That's why Senator Risch and I are joining forces to introduce this key legislation and stop any state tax that seeks to raise the price of self-defense out of reach for any American," said Issa.
Senators and representatives from Louisiana , North Dakota, Montana, California, and Nebraska are also supporting this bill. There had been additional support from organizations such as the National Rifle Association, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, and National Shooting Sports Foundation.
