Court upholds Seattle's gun and ammo tax

Discussion in 'Firearms' started by ditch witch, Dec 23, 2015.


  1. ditch witch

    ditch witch I do stupid crap, so you don't have to

    Judge upholds Seattle's "gun violence tax"

    SEATTLE -- A judge upheld Seattle's so-called gun violence tax Tuesday, rejecting a challenge from the National Rifle Association and other gun rights groups.

    King County Superior Court Judge Palmer Robinson dismissed arguments that Seattle's tax, adopted last summer, exceeded the city's authority under state law.

    The measure -- one of only a few of its kind in the nation -- adds $25 to the price of each firearm sold in the city, plus 2 or 5 cents per round of ammunition, depending on the type.

    CBS affiliate KIRO reported the City Budget Office estimates the tax will raise between $300,000 and $500,000 a year to be used for gun violence research and prevention programs when it takes effect in January.

    "The NRA and its allies always oppose these common sense steps to shine light on the gun violence epidemic," said City Council President Tim Burgess, who sponsored the law. "Judge Robinson saw through the NRA's distorted efforts to put gun industry profits ahead of public safety."

    The NRA did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment, but another plaintiff, the Bellevue-based Second Amendment Foundation, promised an immediate appeal. The groups have argued state law puts responsibility for regulating firearms solely in the hands of the Legislature, not local governments.

    "It is unconscionable for Mayor Ed Murray and the City Council to codify what amounts to social bigotry against firearms retailers and their customers," Second Amendment Foundation founder Alan Gottlieb said in a written statement.

    But the judge found the measure falls within the city's taxing authority and is not an impermissible regulation.

    The City Council modeled the tax after a similar one in Cook County, Illinois, which includes Chicago; the NRA has said Chicago is the only other city with such a measure. The revenue would be used for gun safety research and gun violence prevention programs.

    Between 2006 and 2010, there were on average 131 firearms deaths a year in King County, according to Public Health-Seattle and King County. An additional 536 people required hospitalization for shooting injuries during that time.

    Officials say the direct medical costs of treating 253 gunshot victims at Harborview Medical Center in 2014 totaled more than $17 million. Taxpayers paid more than $12 million of that.

    Gun shop owners claimed the city inflated its estimate of how much money the tax would raise. They said the law would cost them customers and sales and could force them to move out of the city.

    "Guns now kill more people in the United States than automobiles," Seattle mayor Ed Murray said. "Our community will not stand by as so many in our city, particularly young people of color, continue to pay the highest price for inaction on gun violence at the national and state level."
     
  2. toydoc

    toydoc Monkey+++

    Sounds like some elected officials need changing.
     
    Tully Mars likes this.
  3. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    Thanks for Posting @ditch witch, but I can't like a bunch of commie gun grabbers;)
     
    ditch witch and Dunerunner like this.
  4. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    "Guns now kill more people in the United States than automobiles," Seattle mayor Ed Murray said.

    Quite the liar isn't he?
     
  5. Mountainman

    Mountainman Großes Mitglied Site Supporter+++

    Libtard logic (lying) at it's best!!!
     
  6. Pax Mentis

    Pax Mentis Philosopher King |RIP 11-4-2017

    A windfall for the shops in neighboring towns...
     
  7. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    I'm not good at spelling; is it libtard or libturd? ;)
     
  8. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    Y'all need to move south.
     
    Tully Mars likes this.
  9. Mountainman

    Mountainman Großes Mitglied Site Supporter+++

    Liberal retard or liberal turd, both apply among other things they are called.
     
  10. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    They are the most gullible people on the planet. Always a large foul mouth and a superiority complex claiming a superior intellect; yet lacking in common sense.

    I'm southern and same as so many, I learned at my mother's knee no one is superior to anyone.
     
    3M-TA3, Tully Mars, Yard Dart and 3 others like this.
  11. whynot

    whynot Monkey+++

    Melting point restrictions on a firearm ???? Sounds like Gaston Glock forgot to make some "contributions".

    whynot
     
    Tully Mars likes this.
  12. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    The beauty of this whole deal is..... most gun shops will move out of Seattle... and several already have. And any mindful gun owner will never buy guns or ammo within the city limits!!!! Seattle is the hub of the liberal nation in Washington, they have an open socialist on the city council which was just re-elected. Nobody can live in the city anymore without making at least a 100K+ and living in a box. The city is anti-car and pro bicycle.... just a commuters paradise. It is the lib central of the left coast, north of sanfran..... and they are just so proud........ [camo]
     
    3M-TA3 likes this.
  13. Yard Dart

    Yard Dart Vigilant Monkey Moderator

    [​IMG]
     
    3M-TA3, Tully Mars and stg58 like this.
  14. Mountainman

    Mountainman Großes Mitglied Site Supporter+++

    If only Seattle and Portland could be wiped off the map those two states would be fine. Commiefornia has way bigger problems.
     
  15. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    Have to relate a quote I saw this evening, "Common sense is so rare these days, it should be declared to be a super power!"
     
  16. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey


    It is not the Washington of my youth. Seattle was always a bit "different" to those of us in central Wash. but at least you could still go over for a ball game or a shooting match and enjoy yerself.
     
  17. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    Around here it's *ucktard
    oh, and Bless their hearts...;)
     
  18. Witch Doctor 01

    Witch Doctor 01 Mojo Maker

    Ganado likes this.
  19. Tully Mars

    Tully Mars Metal weldin' monkey

    Not from, but I married a hot southern nurse so yeah we live in Bama:D
     
  20. Tikka

    Tikka Monkey+++

    :D

    The * is the way to say what one really means..
     
    Mountainman and Tully Mars like this.
  1. fl4848
  2. BTPost
  3. BTPost
  4. Dunerunner
  5. Coyote Ridge
  6. OldDude49
  7. oldman11
  8. Ura-Ki
  9. oil pan 4
  10. OldDude49
  11. OldDude49
  12. Motomom34
  13. Yard Dart
  14. tacmotusn
  15. Dunerunner
  16. T. Riley
  17. enloopious
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7