Colorado’s newly implemented 6.5 percent excise tax on firearms and ammunition has drawn criticism from gun owners and small business operators, with some labeling the measure as a means to “turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals” and “reduce gun ownership,” according to Fox News. The measure, passed earlier this month with 54 percent of the vote, makes Colorado one of only two states, along with California, to impose special taxes on gun sales.
“The fact that they think that all this crime is caused by guns is ridiculous,” El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanderWerf said to Fox News. “It’s not caused by the guns at all, it’s caused by evil intent – these laws turn law-abiding gun owners into criminals. But… the point is to reduce gun ownership. The point is to eliminate points of sale to make it harder to purchase, own and procure a gun.”
Small business owners have also voiced concern about the financial burden created by the new tax. Chris Jandro and Mike Rickert, who own a firearm store outside Denver, claim lawmakers are focused on the wrong issues. They explained that they have experienced 34 attempted burglaries at their store since opening in 2012, including one in 2017 that resulted in a $200,000 loss.
“Nobody seems to care about that, but we’re going to pass laws to affect law-abiding citizens,” Jandro said, per Fox News. “Isn’t it fascinating? You have to be taxed for a constitutional right!”
The store owners explained that despite gun sales already being taxed at 10 to 11 percent on a federal level, they must also charge an 8 percent sales tax in the city.
“This bill was intended to kill small gun stores – it creates an effective tax rate of about 25%,” Rickert said. “That’s a poll tax, a sin tax – you can’t exercise your constitutional rights as a gun owner.”
The tax applies to all sales by licensed firearms dealers, manufacturers, and ammunition vendors in the state. However, Jandro and Rickert believe that the tax disproportionately impacts small operations like theirs, which lack the resources of large retailers.
“[Big sporting goods chains] have a team of lawyers. It’s easier to put us out of business, because we don’t have the deep pockets that big box stores do,” Jandro explained.
The tax is expected to generate an annual $39 million. Proponents of the measure have also noted that the funds will be used for mental health and public safety initiatives, including services for domestic violence victims.
