Hillary Clinton had a bright idea recently . . . tax guns out of existence.
The concept may have seemed unlikely just a few years ago, but thanks to legislative action in the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands, it’s now a reality.
In April of this year, the territory’s new gun tax took effect which levies an additional $1,000 tax on gun purchases.
The tax is far above the average price of a gun.
For those 2nd Amendment supporters who think the gun tax is just a thing for whacky island nations, think again.
On January 1st of this year the city of Seattle and Cook County, Illinois imposed their versions of a gun tax.
Seattle tacked on an additional $25 tax on gun purchases while Cook County went further and applied a tax to ammunition. The ammo tax ranges from a penny to five cents per round. A penny per round for rimfire rounds and a nickel for centerfire.
The tax represents a 17% tax on 22lr rounds and a 20% tax on .223 rounds (used in the popular AR15 rifle).
Cook County decided to tax ammunition in addition to a $25 tax on retail purchases of firearms.
Notably, Cook County is home to Chicago, a city with already strict firearms regulations that is also the most gang-infested city in the nation.
Within the first ten days of 2016, over 100 people had been shot. Assuming each victim was shot only once by a center fire round, the city gained $5 in revenue from the violence.