Posted on 10/10/2012 9:45:20 AM PDT by marktwain
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has floated the idea of a tax on guns and ammunition to offset a 2013 budget shortfall. Is this a good idea?
Nicknamed a "violence tax," a proposed Cook County tariff would hike up the prices of firearms and ammo as a way to take care of a 2013 budget shortfall, according to an NBC 5 Chicago News report.
READ: Check Out the Full NBC 5 Chicago News Story for More Details
The tax is being considered by Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, who said it wouldn't just be used to fill a $115 million budget hole next year, the report stated. It also would try to stem Chicago's gun violence in light of the past summer's rash of shootings and the city's climbing murder rate, which is up 25 percent from last year, the report continued.
"It's a problem for us in our criminal justice system and it's a problem for us in our health care system, and I make no apologies for the proposal," Preckwinkle said, adding that the average shooting victim costs taxpayers $52,000 because almost 70 percent of them are without health insurance.
A similar proposal was introduced at the state level earlier this year and was criticized by gun rights advocates, the Huffington Post reports.
READ: Check Out the Full Huffington Post Story for More Details
"[It's] just another scheme concocted by the Chicago Machine to punish law-abiding firearm owners," Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, said of the earlier state-wide tax.
The "violence tax" is set to be introduced when Preckwinkle unveils her county budget proposal Oct. 18.
(Excerpt) Read more at tinleypark.patch.com ...
More misplaced blame.
Those who COMMIT violence should be taxed, regardless of the tools they employ.
The only “violence tax” I will pay is the portion of my property tax that goes to the police department. It’s THERE job to stop the violence, not to make difficult my right to responsible purchase and own a firearm!
Thiks tax in Cook is just ridiculous! Throwing money at the problem isn’t going to stop it!
A tax on corrupt politicians in Cook County would be far more productive I’d think.
Why would it bring in any money?
It would simply end or greatly diminish ammo sales in that county.
People would just buy elsewhere.
NO
How about a tax on mentholated grape flavored #2 pencils?
Young urban males are far more a common denominator in violent crime than firearms are, so why not create an “urban yute tax”?
Upping the tax on Skittles and hoodies might be a good idea too.
Because taxing criminal enterprise is so beneficial to gubmint coffers......
Speak softly,
KYPD
tax the known violent criminals, not law abiding gun owners.
but then again this is just an excuse to get people accepting the premise of such a tax.
To own real estate, I must pay a property tax. To drive, I must pay a gasoline tax. So, if I must pay a violence tax, does that imply my right to be violent?
Sure let’s have a violence tax on the people whose policies lead to violence: liberals.
No Taxation without Representation!
I’ve never used my guns in a violent act (unless you count blasting bowling pins as “violence.”)
More to the point, do I get to start shooting liberals if they try to levy this tax? I mean, if I am being taxed for being violent, the least I can do is BE violent...
Mark
They should tax criminals.
Wait a minute. Thirty seconds ago I read a quote from obama that millions more people now have health insurance thanks to obamacare. I guess none of them are in Cook County.
Does she really think criminals buy their guns and ammo in a store? Maybe if it’s a straw purchase.
This is like you, as property owner, paying a property tax to pay for cleaning up after the homeless.
Any such tax would violate the 2nd amendment.
As I recall it’s damn near impossible to buy a gun in Cook County. Dunno about ammo...Stevie666
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