New Bill Would Force Americans To Pay $100 Tax On Every Gun A U.S. congresswoman plans to introduce a bill later this week that would require a $100 tax on all gun sales nationwide. If the bill is passed by Congress, the revenue made off of the tax will go toward mental health and anti-violence programs.
Democratic Congresswoman Nydia Velazquez, from New York, announced the federal legislation called “Reducing Gun Violence in our Neighborhoods Act” at NYC’s City Hall on Monday, according to the New York Daily News.
The bill plans to curb the number of guns bought and sold across the country, while generating tax revenue that will be distributed by the Justice Department to mental health and anti-violence programs. (RELATED: FBI: September Had Record Number Of Gun Sales)
“This bill will take meaningful steps to address the issue, reducing the flow of guns on the street, empowering law enforcement to better track missing weapons, while investing in community anti-violence programs,” Velazquez said at the announcement.
Velazquez — who was also joined on stage by the bill’s co-sponsor, New York Rep. Hakeem Jeffries — announced the legislation would also implement a gun identification system that would keep tight tabs on any stolen or missing guns.
AM New York reported the legislation would require all gun owners to report stolen or missing weapons to the authorities within 48 hours. If firearm owners fail to report the stolen goods within the prescribed time, they will be slammed with a $10,000 penalty.
“The time has come to move past serial numbers that are often scraped off, preventing authorities from carrying out justice,” Velazquez said at City Hall.
When Jeffries took the spotlight at the announcement on Monday, he told the crowd it was time for conservative gun control critics to wake up from their “Second Amendment addiction slumber,” according to Newsday.
