As a mobster might put it, Ronald Reagan was not a friend of ours. As California’s Governor, Ronnie curtailed gun rights. As President, he elevated the ATF to full agency status and supported the Brady Bill. Still, the Gipper knew how government thinks: “If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” In other words, they get you coming and going. We can see this all-embracing ethos in the current push for civilian disarmament. Specifically, surcharges. In its recent package of gun ban bills, Connecticut added a $35 per person fee for mandatory “eligibility certificates to purchase guns and ammo.” Not to be outdone on the tax side, California is working on adding to the cost of ammo . . .
The California Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee recently approved a new measure that places a 10 percent tax on all ammunition sold in California. Law enforcement agencies will be exempt from the tax.
The Board of Equalization estimates that the new tax will generate $92.4 million in annual revenues.
Democratic Assemblymen Rob Bonta and Roger Dickinson, who both support the bill, hope to use the new revenue to help cities that are plagued with gun violence. Bonta explained, “Cities throughout the state, including Oakland, are suffering horrific and increasing gun violence. AB 187 will provide the City of Oakland, and cities in similar circumstances, with sufficient street-level public safety presence to prevent gun violence and attend to it when it does occur.”
The 10 percent ammo sales tax would include gun show sales. But wait! This could well be a tax on a tax. Dickinson’s other bill on the matter(AB 760) would impose a five cent tax on every round of ammunition sold in California. As opposingviews.com points out, “ironically, the tax would be more expensive than the actual bullets.”
Ironic is one word for it. I bet you guys can think of some others. Anyway, a “tax bullets” measure failed in Illinois. What’s the bet it’ll make it through the legislature in America’s western-most slave state?
I see that CTD has continued with their admirable policy of charging reasonable prices when they get ammo in stock.
To the topic: California. I continue to not regret moving from my home state.
The illustration does, in fact, show the current price of 9mm at Cheaper Than Gold.
They have taxed the crap out of cigarettes and alcohol, this will be the new sin tax.
Someone will have to have a court challenge to see if you can tax a right because with super majority in both houses and the legilature in CA feeling omnipotent, what is to stop them?
“Where are we, and why am I in this hand basket?”
So what about out-of-state visitors? Suppose I have a magazine that I purchased before July, 2013, and I want to bring it with me while I visit friends/relatives or hunt in Colorado. Will Colorado consider me a felon for bringing it into the state — even if I fully intend to take it out of the state with me?
And their date stamping law is stupid: why would a company put post-July 2013 date stamps on 30 round magazines which they cannot legally sell in Colorado? No other state requires date stamps so why would the magazine company put any stamps on their magazines at all?
The law was written with the assumption that MAGPUL would still be manufacturing mag bodies in the state after the 1st of July. I assume they will not be. I hope I am not wrong in my assumption, as the legislature and chief executive of the State of Colorado were wrong in theirs.
There’s a simple solution to these infringements. California shooters need to stock up in adjoining states like Nevada. The same will hold true for Connecticut residents.
One more reason for CA residents to visit Reno. Yay?
Yup. Reno is only about 90 minutes from where I live. And I would shop there if only to have the taxes go to a state government that I support.
I can see check points at the state lines already.
You forget, california already has fruit Nazi’s stationed at the border. The Fruit Nazis up in Truckee take their job seriously, the one on 395 not so much, they just stand there and wave you through.
They tried to put a 50% tax on ammo in Connecticut, but it failed to garner any support. For your suggestion to drive and stock up in a neighboring state, have you seen Connecticut’s neighbors – New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island? The closest thing to a “free” state is Vermont or Maine.
I would if I knew I could get a year’s supply of .45 ACP and .22LR. Otherwise the gas (also the highest price in the lower 48) for the four hour one way trip would negate the savings.
“America’s western-most slave state”? Hawaii?
Better question:
How much of the revenue generated (btw, I thought new taxes were to be voted on by the general population…. silly me) will be used to pay out settlements when the boys in black shoot up the wrong make and color truck, or beat a schizophrenic to death, or get overzealous when dealing with a a Driving While Black case?…
Laws of economics being what they are, reduced demand in CA _should_ lead to reduced prices elsewhere.
So, thanks CA!
Why is law enforcement exempt? What’s good for the gander is good for the goose.
Don’t get your hopes up about cheap ammo in NV. A certain Dem state rep is gaining support for a “per round” ammo tax here as well. Yesterday the ‘prostitute your dead children’ Bloomburg campaign managed to bully our legislature into passing a comprehensive background check bill (Nevada SB221) by parading the Sandy Hook mobile brigade in front of our legislators. Washington, Oregon, and Colorado are not the only states suffering from Ex-Californians voting their new state into oblivion.
Seriously, I have neighbors that recently moved from CA. “Oh, we need more gun laws here in NV. We left CA because of all the crime and violence.” – They were concerned when I went into a seizure on the spot…
I’ve never shot 3-gun, and I imagine it’s a lot of fun, but it’s phenomenally boring to watch.
Hey CA legislators, I’ll just buy ammo somewhere else. WI has lower sales taxes, and I visit that state regularly.
Tancredeo (R) announced he is running for governor. Won’t fix anything short term, but it’s good to hear this announcement.
I will be voting for those that support my rights.
Biggest crock of shit case ever.
If Obama had a hand holding a pistol with no trigger discipline….
Color me surprised.
Or not
Thanks for the reality check on Ronnie Raygun. My “conservative” friends whose only source of news is Fox think I’m an “extreme leftist ” ’cause I reject the diefication of Reagan. I got out of the submarine service in early ’81, right after he got elected, and made it home to the Midwest just as his corporate handlers told him to tell the USDA to forclose on ALL small farm loans, no matter what the repayment record was. A way of life I grew up with (the small family farm) disappeared in matter of months. Then he got the bright idea to “deinstitutionalize” the mentally ill, which lead to hordes of crazy people roaming the streets and occasionally (since there is no mental health care at the bottom tier) your random mass shooting. Oh yeah, and then he de-regulated the savings and loans, which only cost the taxpayers umpteen billion dollars, which was such a great idea that we deregulated insurance companies and banks. I think they called the result “financial meltdown” which introduced us to the concept of “too big to fail bailouts.” Don’t care how many times Newt mentions him in a 10-minute speech (37) – RWR was a terrible president.
But he had great hair and one-liners, so those negate all the other stuff. Apparently.
Fantastic. More uneducated decisions from the liberal super majority in California.
I’m just shocked at the complete lack of logic or education about firearms and the industry behind it. If you want revenue, go tax our massive amount of medical marijuana dispensaries (LA County). I can’t imagine that the majority of those customers are highly productive members of society…
“go tax our massive amount of medical marijuana dispensaries”
Did that measure pass? I think it was Measure F – The Dispensaries passed out flyers saying to vote NO on F and YES on D. Which is funny. Basically they want the system to stay the way it is. No tax, no regulation, just weed for days. I say Tax it like booze/cigs/gas and call it a day.
…
Google-fu says it passed…
http://www.smartvoter.org/2009/07/21/ca/alm/meas/F/
I would advise the law abiding residents of Sanford and surrounding areas, if they haven’t already, to tool up.
If only they could find ammo…
Nick, it was a pleasure meeting you at the match. The options of how to attack these type of stages are endless, as you’ve found out. Welcome to the Pro Tour!
Sadly I’m sure there’s no way in hell the SCOTUS will ever rule in favor of states having to allow open carry.
I’m about 10 minutes from downtown Sanford. I took the class to get my CCW there. Should be fun watching all those MSM asshats backtracking on their initial condemnations of Zimmerman. Oh, wait, they won’t backtrack. They’ll just ignore the news.
Bloomberg has skeletons in his closet somewhere. I seriously doubt he is clean as the wind driven snow in his personal and business life. There has to be something that would seriously damage his credibility and knock him out of the gun grabbing business. Any journalists game?
Am I the only one that likes a vintage military rifle just the way it is? Putting this stock on a 75 year old rifle is like those kits to put a Porsche body on an old Super Beetle. Underneath, it is still an old VW.
+1
The only mods I’d make to any WWII surplus rifle would be with period-correct parts or decent quality reproductions. Otherwise why bother? If you want a modern sporting rifle platform, buy one. Part of the joy of having an old Mosin (or Lee Enfield, Mauser, K31, etc etc) is owning a piece of history, even if you can snag a common 91/30 for peanuts it makes me cry to see one of these old workhorses Bubba’d beyond recognition.
In other words, they’re either ignorant bastards or self-serving sanctimonious pricks.
Why not both? *cue Mariachi band*
I don’t feel my M44 is bubbed. I do have a screw on butt pad, not slip on i hate how those loook, a brass stacker picatinny rail and 4×32 fixed ler scope. I’m 46 my eyes are not as good as they used to be and having the scope helps out at 100-200 yds. The scope mount uses the existing pins for the rear sight so it can’t move fore and aft and the rear sight is still useable, you can adjust the iron sites out to 300 meters. I have the iron sights adjusted for use with the bayonet out and the scope sighted in for the bayonet folded. I have put 100-150 rounds down range through it in a few hours at the range so having a butt pad helps tremendously. I have floated my barrel and made a trigger return spring and shimmed the sear to ease the trigger pull. I get as much enjoyment tinkering with it as I do shooting it. I can group 2 inches at 100 yds and 5-6 at 200. My numbers matching 1926 hex will remain as is as will my original numbers matching sniper but the m44 it is more my toy and it is now as I want it. If someone wants to go full retard on redoing their mosin more power to them. Some aspects of my mods had practical applications some not but there in lies what seems to happen in many hobbies. The desire to customize and make something more personal and not just have a cookie cutter model with or without practicality.
I have to disagree with this decision, these cases need prosecuted so these laws can get off the books after people see how stupid they are. It’s great that right now this one DA is choosing to ignore the laws but what about next time? Or under a different DA? There is no intent clause here or with David Gregory breaking the law in DC. He should have been charged to only show how ridiculous a law of possessing an empty piece of plastic and metal is to a reasonable person.
Looks like a good product. I had been thinking of how it would be nice to have a product that simulated the weapon firing and resetting the trigger after each pull. Looks like these guys have figured it out. For $139 dollars it’s cheaper than buying a bunch of boxes of ammo. I have two cats that would find it equally as entertaining. My wife, not so much.
FLAME DELETED
Please send all comments on TTAG’s editorial stance or stye to [email protected]
rest in piss trayvon
FYI, AB 187 died.
Its no big surprise why Cabala’s built there store in the Reno area less then 2 miles from the calif state line in Verdi, NV
This store was built just for the calif business without the hassle of being in Calif