How to drive firearms businesses out of your city

Status
Not open for further replies.

Old Dog

Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2004
Messages
10,717
Location
on Puget Sound
The Tacoma City Council passed its draconian ammunition and firearms tax law finally (modeled after Seattle's law, which drove all but one retailer out of that city).
https://www.kiro7.com/news/south-so...e-on-gun-tax-modeled-after-seattle/1002448308
Probably more local news links available, but trying to avoid subscription websites.

To sum it up: 5 cents per round tax on ALL ammunition (only 2 cents on 22 LR "or smaller"). $25 fee added to all firearms purchases.

Owners of two of the remaining shops inside the city, including one which is a distributor for state and local law enforcement equipment, have indicated they will close rather than move.

This is part of the blue-print for how it ends, folks.
 
Years go a small Iowa town council was dominated by the "Highbrow Country Club Member Elite" group of the community. Probably had a 9 hole course. They resented the existence of the local tavern. An ordinance was passed requiring a business to collect something like 75% of it's revenue from food to hold a liquor license. The next day the tavern owner made the TV news. He had offered a new menu, $1.49 for an animal cracker and you could get a beer for a penny and $1.99 for a peanut and a mixed drink for a penny. Maybe something like that would work for ammo?
 
The next key step is to follow the money. The article is very vague on how the money will be used. Rather than using the tone-deaf argument about protecting the 2A put pressure on the council to put in writing what organizations will get the money and how much they will receive. Most likely the tax revenue is going to disappear into the budget and will go to folks and organizations as a reward for their political support.
 
Of interest to me was that, during the open meeting, it was disclosed (yet made zero difference to the council members) that since Seattle passed its ammunition and firearms tax, homicides, robberies and violent assaults by criminals armed with firearms ... actually have increased.
 
Years go a small Iowa town council was dominated by the "Highbrow Country Club Member Elite" group of the community. Probably had a 9 hole course. They resented the existence of the local tavern. An ordinance was passed requiring a business to collect something like 75% of it's revenue from food to hold a liquor license. The next day the tavern owner made the TV news. He had offered a new menu, $1.49 for an animal cracker and you could get a beer for a penny and $1.99 for a peanut and a mixed drink for a penny. Maybe something like that would work for ammo?
Separate them out on taxes and run it as a DBA establishment. Show a loss on the bar side of things and pull all of the overhead out of the diner and suddenly your playing a favorable tax game! I like the way this guy thinks.
 
There is only one firearms dealer in Washington, D.C., and he runs his business out of the police headquarters.

Years ago (before state preemption), Alexandria, Virginia, passed a 3-day wait for handgun sales. Since the neighboring jurisdictions did not have this wait, it caused the remaining gun dealers to relocate outside the city.

Things like this are no accident. The whole idea is to drive gun shops out of the city.
 
The whole idea is to drive gun shops out of the city.

The idea isn't new... just different.

They've (insert anti state name) been trying to drive out gun owners from their states for years.... and many here are not aware enough and keep suggesting people move. That's what they want.

Hell, I remember years ago you saying that this stuff won't happen in VA. Now you're living it.

We finally have some TX member getting concerned about TX after a decade of saying it will never happen there.
 
That mirrors what they did in Cook County, IL. $25 per handgun, $.05 per bullet and I believe $.01 per rimfire bullet. I spoke with the manager at Cabela's in Hoffman Estates, IL a while ago and that's one of the reasons they've devoted more space to clothes and other non-firearm related products. Buying case of 1000 rounds of ammunition there is out of the question, as you need to pay an additional $50 because of this tax.
 
I feel bad for y’all who live in oppressive states or cities. Round here the saying is “Do whatever you want. Just keep it down.”

I know it’s not desirable or possible for all, but I wish you a speedy exodus from your state of oppression. And if you stay and fight, I really do applaud you.
 
My closest town of 35k has zero gun shops and five pot shops. I have to drive at least 50 miles to find a brick and mortar gun shop in my state. That's a hard fact for many to comprehend when discussing why most of my firearms purchases are done over the internet.
 
460shooter,, and Trey veston,,,,do you think we know where you are located, let alone, even what state you are in??
 
460shooter,, and Trey veston,,,,do you think we know where you are located, let alone, even what state you are in??
Of course not. Anyone can do a little research and find plenty of gun friendly places to live. My particular location is unimportant as I’m not advocating anyone migrate here.

My statement is simply one of support and genuine empathy for folks who are being victimized. Folks can’t just pick up and move in a lot of cases. So I really feel for those in a rough spot.
 
Years go a small Iowa town council was dominated by the "Highbrow Country Club Member Elite" group of the community. Probably had a 9 hole course. They resented the existence of the local tavern. An ordinance was passed requiring a business to collect something like 75% of it's revenue from food to hold a liquor license. The next day the tavern owner made the TV news. He had offered a new menu, $1.49 for an animal cracker and you could get a beer for a penny and $1.99 for a peanut and a mixed drink for a penny. Maybe something like that would work for ammo?

awesome
 
It worked here in Seattle, (last gun dealer was Butch's, which morphed into Accurate Shooter and moved to Lynnwood.) there's absolutely no reason it wouldn't work in Tacoma.
 
Can’t they sue?
The owner of Accurate Shooter was, the last I heard, doing just that.

So stay tuned, that process shouldn't take more than six or eight years. Meanwhile, he's keeping the Butch's storefront padlocked, (and, therefore, available to him) in case the law changes back.
 
Wonder what Surplus Arms and Ammo and Aero Precision will do, both are located in Tacoma......I actually believe they are in some way connected, but, dont know for certian.
 
There is only one firearms dealer in Washington, D.C., and he runs his business out of the police headquarters.

Years ago (before state preemption), Alexandria, Virginia, passed a 3-day wait for handgun sales. Since the neighboring jurisdictions did not have this wait, it caused the remaining gun dealers to relocate outside the city.

Things like this are no accident. The whole idea is to drive gun shops out of the city.

Then make the city “pay” when they have to rearm or replenish their ammo supply.
 
The best thing would be to work to change this. Don't take it sitting down or give them what they want.
If possible, also don't close the business--that's also a win for them--but move it. Make their neighbor richer. Not only deny them the extra fees, but what they previously collected, too. And a richer neighbor makes that community relatively poorer.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top