Senator Perata Proposes Nickle Tax on Bullets

KTVU/Fox2 News ^ | 3/28/02 | Randy Shandobil

[gc4nra]

Political Editor Randy Shandobil for KTVU Channel 2 News

Target practice could soon get a lot more expensive. Next week a Bay Area state senator will formally propose a five-cent-a-bullet sales tax. Not five percent, but a nickel for each and every round.

Shoot a small caliber weapon, such as a .22? That more than doubles the price of your ammo.

Sen. Don Perata/(D) Oakland : "I will be attacked by those who hate gun control. I know that. As soon as this airs, I am going to start getting nasty phone calls and email."

Senator Don Perata is a gun control crusader. But he says his tax idea is not meant to deter gun use, but rather to raise money to save California's hospital trauma centers, some of which are going under.

"Bullets cause injuries that are expensive to treat and generally speaking, the public is footing the bill."

Perata wants the legislature to put the tax idea on the November ballot.

Peter Buxtun/NRA Member: "This idea is stupidity."

National Rifle Association member Peter Buxtun says previous gun control measures by Senator Perata put many gun dealers out of business, and he says a nickel a bullet tax would just lead to ammo smuggling. Buxtun: "People would go to Oregon, they would go to Nevada and they would load up the trunks of their car or their whole van and bring tons of ammunition in."

At the Jackson Arms Shooting Range in South San Francisco today, most customers did not want to talk on camera... but everyone said the tax would be unfair. They don't shoot people, they shoot targets.

Sen. Perata: "I am sorry. You cannot screen them out. The same way that someone with a perfect driving record is going to be upset that they pay an added cost for emergency care."

Democrats control both the state senate and the state assembly, so Senator Perata is confident a majority of lawmakers will support the tax. But that doesn't mean it will qualify for the November ballot.

For a ballot measure to qualify, two thirds of the legislature has to say yes, not a simple majority.

Buxtun: "We'll absolutely fight this as hard as we can."

If it does qualify, it could become a hot button issue in the Governor's race. Aides to Republican Bill Simon, who earns an A rating from the NRA, say he would be against it. Governor Davis is taking no position yet. He has signed many gun control bills, but says he's against tax hikes.

-- Political Editor Randy Shandobil, KTVU Channel 2 News

© 2002 KTVU-TV

[Godebert]

" Taxes on bullets isn't a bad thing, if the funds would be applied to costs associated with fire arms by the government. They were used quite oftain in the past as a state would know something was up if more people started buying swords and other weapons, a sign of unrest. Although I must admit a nickel a bullet is a tad extreame."

Would you mind explaining what the hell you're babbling about?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Now I know it's around here somewhere. Dang it, where did I leave that kite kit?

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

How about warning labels printed on the side of every bullet?

Just make sure the ATF's bullets have the warnings.

[goldstategop]

California is a "may issue" CCW state. In practice it means the only people who can get a CCW permit issued to them are politically connected friends of the sheriff or police chief, campaign contributors, and prominent celebrities. The masses can't usually get one even if they have a valid reason. Here in California this leaves law abiding gun owners illegally packing their pieces since its virtually impossible to be licensed to carry them and besides why in the world would you want the gun grabbers in this state to know you're armed to begin with. Don Perata who has such a CCW permit enjoys a benefit he thinks ordinary Californians shouldn't be allowed to have. The politics of gun ownership in "may issue" states lend themselves to this kind of abuse and corruption.

[B4Ranch]

Have you ever done any lead moulding?

[Mulder]

There may be an unintended consequence lurking in this stupid "bullet tax". A box of 50 .44 Mag goes for $15. A box of 500 .22 goes for $10. Add the "bullet tax" and the .44 Mag costs $17.50. The brick of .22 goes for $35. The center fire rounds cost 17% more. The .22 costs 250% more. Perhaps this will fuel sales for more center fire handgun ammo.

Then they'll just come back for "round 2" and either raise the tax or base it as a percentage of the cost of the bullet. The tyrants will just keep pushing until they are finally told "no", one way or another.

Frederick Douglass summarized this situation well: “Find out just what people will submit to, and you have found out the exact amount of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them; and these will continue until they are resisted with either words or blows, or both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”

[Travis McGee]

Tyranny requires a disarmed peasantry.

The needs of a senator who is disarming the peasants for their own good are greater, so of course he must have a carry permit.

[Travis McGee]

Not in a while, but it's not something one forgets.

[Gophack]

Just bought a box of 550 [10% extra, free!] for $9.95. Add .05 X 500 and it becomes $34.95.

This tax would actually be dangerous! It would decrease safety because people will be less likely to practice at the range. We know that practice increases safety. People who don't practice may not be able to hit the intruder, or be uncomfortable with their guns. Also, ammunition becomes stale over time. While blowing off old rounds at the range is fine, you don't want to rely on them if you might need them.

[Gophack]

I think that the Kali legislature (all dem) will pass this nickel tax easily. What we think will have zip to do with it.

Actually, it'll be harder to pass than you might think. Many of the Democrats represent the Central Valley which is becoming increasingly conservative. They will abstain or vote no -- or just won't be there, developing food poisoning that keeps them in the bathroom. The gun grabbing Republicans may oppose it because it's a tax.

If it passes, I don't think Davis will sign it. It will bring gunners to the polls. He'll sign it next year if he wins in November.

We HAVE to elect Bill Simon.

[RightWhale]

ammunition becomes stale over time

It would. The chemicals inside are designed to be reactive, both the primer and the powder, and they will react slowly if left to sit, just like photographic film that you should store in the fridge. Dynamite becomes unstable when it ages, and many modern powders have the same active ingredients. If someone hands me a box of old 45 ACP ammo, I will remove the bullet [sometimes it is welded in place due to corrosion, so it takes quite a bit of force to free], dump the powder, carefully remove the primer [which may be inert, but maybe not], clean the casing, and reload as usual. Look for signs of corrosion on the cartridge.

[ElkGroveDan]

Perata wants the legislature to put the tax idea on the November ballot.

I predict that Davis will find a way to kill this idea.

If y'all are old enough to remember (I was just a snotty-nosed beer-drinking college kid.) There was a handgun ban on the 1982 ballot. That year, Republican George Deukmejian beat Democrat Tom Bradley in their race for governor by a mere 100,000 votes. That was one vote for precinct statewide. Does anyone think that gun owner turnout against the ballot measure had anything to do with it?

Does anyone think Davis and South are dumb enough to let this happen again? Let's hope so.

[Travis McGee]

I have shot WW2 surplus .45 in nickel plated steel cases that was 40 years+ old, and it all fired. I have shot tons of 20+ year old surplus 5.56mm, it all worked.

[zoyd]

This Perata jerk also carries a CCW. Here's the Drudge link:

http://www.nrawinningteam.com/calnra/perata/perata3.gif

[Bernard Marx]

Here's a pull-quote from the story on Drudge's page:

Perata, D-Oalkand, said he wants the money to pay for hospital trauma centers, some of which are facing budget problems. "There's no reason why the general public should be paying for gunshot victims. It is an avoidable injury. It is a preventable injury and therfore I think it's fair to fix a very small tax on the sale of bullets," Perata said.

Now, substitute "AIDS/anal intercourse" for "gunshot." As far as I'm concerned there's no reason the general public should be paying for AIDS if contracted through sodomy. It's an "avoidable, preventable" illness. Instead of worrying about bullets Perata should be imposing a "buggery tax" in the San Francisco-Oakland area.

[RightWhale]

20 year old better work, even 30 year old, I still have some in the box. Actually, I have no experience with old ammo failing to fire, but maybe 40 years isn't old. It's just that one box of 45 ACP from the 40s looked so bad I pulled the bullets and put them in the tumbler with the casings and then reloaded the sparklingly cleaned brass. I forget how I dealt with the primers, I'm thinking woodstove, but they got replaced, too.

[gc4nra]

Please read my comments afte the article and click on the link, it's from the Gun Truths website.

[pocat]

No, but I'm curious about it.

I plan on reloading for my .308 this summer - mostly for my own enjoyment, but also in case idiots like Perata get their way.

Brass, powder and primers can be had in large quantities, but bullets would seem to be the hardest component to replenish. Would un-jacketed bullets be feasible in my bolt-gun? Or is there a way to mould AND jacket them? Any info you have would be very helpful!

[B4Ranch]

http://www.reloadammo.com/ is a great site. http://www.reloadammo.com/relcast.htm/ is about casting your own. There is tons of info on casting different lead bases. Take your time, be careful and have lots of fun.

[B4Ranch]

I've been told that a constant cool temperature is the trick to keeping old ammo good.