Congressmen Richard Hudson of North Carolina and Darrell Issa of California, along with Senator Jim Risch from Idaho, have taken a legislative step aimed at restricting states from imposing excise taxes on firearms and ammunition. The newly proposed Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act seeks to prevent the use of these taxes to fund gun control measures.
In a statement, Congressman Hudson expressed, “Gun grabbing liberals will stop at nothing to undermine the Second Amendment. Their latest scheme is an unconstitutional tax that seeks to price you out of your right to keep and bear arms, and this legislation will put a stop to it.”
Congressman Issa added, “For too many years, extreme state policies — including from my home state — have targeted our fundamental Second Amendment rights and the American citizens who exercise them. The latest attack is California’s imposition of a ‘sin tax’ on firearms and ammunition. This outrageous and unfair burden on law-abiding citizens is why Sen. Risch, Rep. Hudson, and I are working to stop this and other attempts to penalize our people and put the price of self-defense out of reach of any American.”
Senator Risch commented on the matter, stating, “Blue states that implement an excessive excise tax to fund gun control initiatives are exploiting the Second Amendment. The Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act ensures states do not place a significant financial burden on law-abiding gun owners to advance their anti-Second Amendment agenda.”
California, since July 2024, has implemented a new excise tax ranging from 10 to 11 percent on firearms and ammunition to curtail firearm purchases and support gun control programs. This move effectively doubles the tax on gun and ammunition purchases. Other states like Colorado, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York have put forth similar tax proposals.
The bill has gained backing from multiple lawmakers, including U.S. Senators Mike Crapo, Marsha Blackburn, Bill Cassidy, Kevin Cramer, Steve Daines, Deb Fischer, Lindsey Graham, John Hoeven, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Jim Justice, James Lankford, Pete Ricketts, and Representative Doug LaMalfa.
Additionally, this legislative measure has garnered support from organizations such as the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and the National Rifle Association.
The full text of the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act is available for review.
