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Second Amendment

Washington state Democrats propose additional tax for

'privilege of using ammunition'
House Bill 2238 said the revenue from the proposed tax would fund programs to prevent suicide and firearm-related
domestic violence
By Louis Casiano Fox News

Published January 11, 2024 7:40pm EST

NRA's Wayne LaPierre defends Second Amendment at CPAC

CEO of the National Rifle Association warns against potential post-Parkland gun-grab; Peter Doocy reports from CPAC.

Washington state Democrats are proposing an additional tax on residents for "the
privilege of using ammunition" in an effort to decrease gun violence.

Fifteen state Democrats recently introduced House Bill 2238, citing the health and safety
threat posed by gun violence throughout the state. The legislation was referred Tuesday to
the state's legislature's committee on finance.

If passed, the bill would impose a use and sales tax on the retail sale of ammunition.

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Ammunition for a .45-caliber firearm. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli/File)

"A use tax is levied on every person in this state for the privilege of using ammunition as a
consumer at the rate of percent of the selling price," the bill states.

The text of the bill describes ammunition as "projectiles with their fuses, propelling
charges, or primers designed to be fired from firearms. ‘Ammunition’ includes any shotgun
shell and any rifle, pistol, or revolver cartridge."

The proposed tax would be in addition to the federal, state, and local sales and use tax
imposed on sales of goods and services. However, it would not apply to sales to state,
local, or tribal governments for the purposes of supplying law enforcement agencies, the
bill notes.

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Aerial view of Washington State Capitol in Olympia, Wash. (David Ryder/Getty Images/File)

The National Rifle Association said it plans to oppose the bill from becoming law.

"This is a clear unconstitutional assault aimed at penalizing law-abiding citizens in

Washington," Aoibheann Cline, the National Rifle Association's (NRA) Washington director,
said in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The NRA stands strong and will fight this absurd
legislation."

State Rep. Jim Walsh, who serves as the chair of the Washington State Republican Party,
said the "arrogance and sanctimony of anti-2A (Second Amendment) extremists will be
their undoing, even in ‘blue’ states."

"Washington HB 2238 is a poorly-conceived and sloppily-drafted piece of work," he told

Fox News Digital in a statement. "It’s also politically tone-deaf, as Washington residents
from all points on the political spectrum and all corners of the state are currently rejecting
state tax hikes."

Walsh said the "real kicker" in the bill's text is the reference to "the privilege of using
ammunition."

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A screenshot of House Bill 2238 in Washington state that proposes an addition tax on the retail sale of ammunition.
(Washington State Legislature) More from Politics
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"This amateurish rhetoric exposes any legislator who might support the bill to deserved who cross the
border because feds
ridicule," he added. "Under both the federal and state constitutions, owning and using 'would charge us
firearms are rights, not privileges. Article 1, Section 24, of the Washington state with murder'
constitution reads: 'The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or
5 hours ago
the state, shall not be impaired….' That language, unlike HB 2238, is clear." WARNING:
Lawmaker's bill
mandates automatic
The Democrats behind the legislation cited the threat posed by gun violence which ,
death penalty for
remains a persistent health and safety threat for people across our state, according to the child sex crimes
following Epstein
proposed legislation. One person is killed by a firearm every 14 hours and nearly half of all files release
suicides are from firearms, the bill states.
5 hours ago
Lloyd Austin
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House Republicans
demand more
Revenue from the proposed tax would be used to fund suicide prevention programs and details as pressure
programs to reduce firearm-related domestic violence. builds on Pentagon

5 hours ago
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Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com .
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