Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
You can apply a sales tax, that's not a problem. The additional tax theoretically would make poor citizens unable to exercise their Constitutional right to bear arms. It was mentioned in another post, similar to a poll tax. Why was that deemed illegal? Because it deterred poor people from voting (another Constitutional right). The right to smoke is not stated specifically in the Constitution.
There is a First Amendment that guarantees a free press. yet, states can tax the sale of books.
The argument is specious. But if you want to pursue this, go pass a constitutional amendment halting the states from taxing firearms -- just like there was a constitutional amendment barring poll taxes.
Then you would agree that an increase in the tax on guns or ammo would not be an equal protection issue, right? (Which has been my point all along)
You are assuming that one section of the constitution supercedes another, which is false. The equal protection clause isn't relevant because the 2nd stands alone.
There is a First Amendment that guarantees a free press. yet, states can tax the sale of books.
The argument is specious. But if you want to pursue this, go pass a constitutional amendment halting the states from taxing firearms -- just like there was a constitutional amendment barring poll taxes.
The power to tax requires uniformity. Sales tax are uniform and customary. And again, you are mixing apples and oranges.
Or heavily regulate bullets and make them prohibitively expensive.
Where have we seen people make it prohibitively expensive to exercise a right before? Ever heard of a poll tax? Any attempt to circumvent the 2nd Amendment by targeting ammunition would either be found unconstitutional or trigger the writing and ratification of a 28th Amendment.
How? Both are subject to sales tax, why is it unconstitutional to impose an additional tax? Equal protection doesn't seem to apply to smokers who pay $10 for pack of cigarettes in one state and $4 in another, does it?
Smoking isn't a constitutionally protected right. Is that really so hard for you to understand?
You are assuming that one section of the constitution supercedes another, which is false. The equal protection clause isn't relevant because the 2nd stands alone.
Ok, so where in the 2nd amendment does it say that you can't impose a tax on guns or ammo? The initial response I got from one poster was that they can't be taxed, but that's clearly wrong- both are subject to sales tax..so I'm really unclear as to why there couldn't be an additional tax...
Ok, so where in the 2nd amendment does it say that you can't impose a tax on guns or ammo?
"A well regulated militia, necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed".
Chief Justice John Marshall wrote in McCulloch v Maryland, "the power to tax is the power to destroy". By excessively taxing ammunition and firearms with the aim to prevent people from buying them, you are destroying the purpose of the 2nd Amendment. Even if you only made ammunition prohibitively expensive, you are causing the militia to no longer be well regulated. A firearm without ammunition is no longer a firearm and is rendered useless. You have infringed on the right to keep and bear arms. That is unconstitutional.
If they do something you don't like, you think they should be killed? That's the very definition of insanity.
Further, like most rights, the right to bear arms has limitations-- You can't own anti aircraft guns and mount them in your backyard....
It's just a question of where the line is...
That's right. The Constitution doesn't mention "The Right to Bear "Anti Aircraft Guns," or even Aircraft, for that matter.. How strange....
I love it when anti-gun folks think "Small Arms" are in the same class as Artillery, Anti Aircraft Guns, Tanks, and Atomic Bombs. That's the very definition of insanity.
Actually, you can own most anything you want, if your willing to do the paperwork, pay the fee, and get the Permits. That "Line" is more fluid than one may assume.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
