Gun tax: Tacoma follows Seattle down foolish road

The Tacoma City Council’s unanimous decision to tax gun and ammunition sales will not make the city safer but will certainly make it poorer.

The tax increase is estimated to bring an additional $30,000 per year; gun and ammunition sales currently provide the city coffers $250,000.

There is no evidence guns bought in Tacoma are more likely to harm a Tacoma resident than guns bought elsewhere.

Seattle imposed a similar tax. It did not reduce gun violence, but did drive many gun retailers away, reducing tax revenue to the benefit of neighboring communities. This will happen to Tacoma. The shops that relocate or close will not return.

This punitive tax was not designed to improve public safety but to destroy local gun shops. It will not solve gun violence but will deprive the city of revenue to assist crime victims or the homeless.

Background checks may improve safety. This does not. Political correctness is the luxury of opinion writers; common sense is a necessity in civic leaders.

The council voted in unison for this needless, harmful ordinance. They should all leave together at the next election.

This story was originally published December 11, 2019 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Gun tax: Tacoma follows Seattle down foolish road."