Hinds Today

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) has recently cosponsored legislation aimed at preventing states from imposing excise taxes on firearms and ammunition, which are seen as increasing costs for sportsmen, hunters, and other law-abiding gun owners.

Hyde-Smith is an original cosponsor of the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act (S.4960), which seeks to prohibit states from implementing such taxes on firearms, ammunition, or their parts and components to fund gun control programs. The legislation was authored by U.S. Senator James Risch (R-Idaho).

"States shouldn’t be allowed to wield their taxing powers to infringe on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners, which is exactly what they’re trying to do with these heavy excise taxes on firearms and ammunition," Hyde-Smith stated.

Risch added, "Democrats’ latest attack on the Second Amendment looks like an excessive excise tax to fund gun control initiatives. 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."

As of July 1, 2024, California has implemented a new 10-11 percent excise tax on firearms and ammunition aimed at discouraging firearm purchases and funding gun control programs. These fees have effectively doubled the tax on such purchases. Similar proposals have been made in Colorado, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and New York.

The proposed S.4960 would not impact existing federal excise taxes on firearms that contribute to federal wildlife conservation programs.

The bill has garnered support from organizations including the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, National Shooting Sports Foundation, and National Rifle Association.