Washington State Democrats Propose Additional Tax on Ammunition for Gun Violence Prevention Programs

Washington State Democrats have recently introduced House Bill 2238, which proposes an additional tax on the retail sale of ammunition. The bill aims to fund suicide prevention programs and programs to reduce firearm-related domestic violence. The tax would be imposed as a use tax on every person in the state for the privilege of using ammunition as a consumer. The bill defines ammunition as projectiles with their fuses, propelling charges, or primers designed to be fired from firearms, including shotgun shells and rifle, pistol, or revolver cartridges. The tax would not apply to sales to state, local, or tribal governments for the purposes of supplying law enforcement agencies. The National Rifle Association has announced its intention to oppose the bill. State Rep. Jim Walsh, who serves as the chair of the Washington State Republican Party, has also criticized the bill, stating that it is politically tone-deaf and that owning and using firearms are rights, not privileges. The Democrats behind the legislation cited the threat posed by gun violence, which remains a persistent health and safety threat for people across the state. One person is killed by a firearm every 14 hours, and nearly half of all suicides are from firearms. Revenue from the proposed tax would be used to fund suicide prevention programs and programs to reduce firearm-related domestic violence.