'Bullet Tax' Proposed By Mayoral Candidate

[The Northerner]

BALTIMORE -- A mayoral candidate's plan to reduce violence in Baltimore includes a "bullet tax" that he said will increase the cost of committing a crime.

Otis Rolley said he would, if elected, propose a $1 per bullet tax on all bullet purchases in the city. He also said he wants to improve recruitment standards and training for the Baltimore City Police Department, work closely with the media to increase awareness of wanted suspects, and reduce the number of vacant properties.

Rolley released his plan on Tuesday, citing recent holiday violence at the Inner Harbor and the city's reputation as one of the most violent in the country as reasons for change.

"It is unacceptable that too many of us feel unsafe in own city, own neighborhoods, even in our own homes," he said.

Read more: http://www.wbaltv.com/politics/28595846/detail.html#ixzz1SZT9bIEZ

[damntexdem]

1. Good for Rolley!

But that tax may be a bit too low. How about $10 per bullet?

[friendly_iconoclast]

8. Do you have a relative that owns a gun shop in the Baltimore suburbs?

Are you somehow under the impression that Baltimore gun owners are too stupid to drive outside city limits to buy ammunition?

[slackmaster]

2. Great job-killing idea! No doubt the Baltimore police would be exempt from the tax.

Otherwise they'd buy their ammunition outside of the city, or online, like everyone else would.

Adding $50 to the price of a box of .22 ammunition would be bad for retail business.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

18. Could you imagine $501.20 tax added to a $20 bulk pack of .22lr - this politician is an idiot

[HopeHoops]

3. I'd probably support that, but only if it had an exemption for hunting rifle bullets.

And I'm vegetarian. A lot of people hunt for food (unless they're named "Palin"). Handgun bullets are fine. You shouldn't have to fire one of those very often. I have a lot of respect for hunters that use the meat to feed their families - a lot more than someone who buys a plastic-wrapped package of ground whatever-the-fuck-it-is meat at the grocery store. They shouldn't be subjected to such a tax. And face it - rifles aren't particularly a common tool for the kind of crimes Rolley is targeting (no pun intended).

[friendly_iconoclast]

9. You are aware that this tax could be avoided by going out of town to buy ammunition?

Somehow, I think Rolley and his supporters here haven't quite thought his clever plan all the way through...

[HopeHoops]

12. Agreed. It would have to be implemented on a wider scale to be effective.

Still, I doubt it would significantly cut down on the number of incidents of gun violence, but perhaps there would be some reduction in the number of slugs the ER staff has to pull out of each victim. And if there's any serious amount of cash involved, the cost of bullets won't be much of a consideration.

But your point about driving is well substantiated. Consider alcohol. Every dry area is surrounded by beer, wine, and liquor stores at every border crossing. That's even true with alcohol tax rates. MD has lower alcohol taxes than PA and you don't even need a "Welcome to Maryland" sign to know you've crossed into the state - just look for the alcohol store that's visible from the highway or right on the secondary road.

There is a breakpoint where the cost of gas offsets the advantage of avoiding the tax, but if you're buying a box of bullets you would have to live a LONG way from the border and drive an SUV to make it an issue. I doubt that many people are going to take a drive to buy one or two bullets.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

16. I don't know about you... but if people have handguns I hope they practice alot.

If people are going to have handguns (and in most states can carry them in public) I REALLY REALLY REALLY hope they practice for thier sake and my own. Everyone who owns any guns should practice even if only once a year to stay proficient with thier firearms. That's just common sense... someone who is not practiced with thier gun is more likely to inadvertently injure themselves or a bystander.

It's not uncommon to shoot 2-4 boxes of pistol ammo in a practice session. Normally, that would only cost about $30-$60 depending on the kind of ammo. Under this tax it could cost upwards of $400+ for that ammo. Rediculous.

Not to mention people can (legally) hunt with pistols too.
Exempt "hunting bullets" and you pretty much still allow just about every pistol caliber over 9mm.

[Renew Deal]

4. We don't need gun control. We need bullet control.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuX-nFmL0II

[sakabatou]

5. Bullet control (Chris Rock)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAoMNEQo4sQ

[Ilsa]

15. Yeah, $5,000 a bullet should do it! LOL nt

[spin]

6. The $1 tax per bullet sounds like another "feel good" law to me ...

It will definitely stop ammo sales in Baltimore but since ammo can be bought in the suburbs it will have little or no effect.

The mayoral candidate's other ideas sound far more reasonable.

[kctim]

7. Just another in a long line of

fear based ideas that will accomplish nothing.

[friendly_iconoclast]

10. The Commonwealth Fallacy in action: "You can solve a problem by passing a law" n/t

[Freddie Stubbs]

11. Sounds like a pretty good stimulus plan for gun stores right across the city line

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

17. Mail order ammo.... it's not even worth it to buy ammo in stores now anyways.

mail order ammo is always about 25% cheaper and you get more selection and you don't have to go into a gun staore and be tempted by all the eye-candy there. The only time I ever get ammo at a gun store or shooting range is if I need ammo immedietly, forgot my own, or can't wait a few days for the delivery guy to show up.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

13. LOL, that makes no sense. What a Moran.

A crime only takes a handful of bullets 5-7 if you have a revolver and maybe 10-15 for a modern pistol. If criminals have to buy new bullets each time they commit a crime it'll cost them a whole extra $7... less than some fast food valve meals. Wow, what a crime deterrent! I'm sure throwing $20 into the pile of risks/considerations (jail, fines, injury, death) for commiting gun crimes is really going to bring our crime rate down. Maybe we should tax $1 on each joint or gram of coke so we can rid ourselves of drugs too!

:sarcasm:

Meanwhile, law abiding people who do own guns and practice regularly will be forced to shell out possibly hundreds of extra dollars each practice so that they can learn to operate and handle thier firearms SAFELY and EFFECTIVELY. If I'm going to live in a society where people have guns, I sure as hell want people to know how to use them correctly for thiers and my safety.


This might be one of the most idiotic, asinine, counter-productive proposals I've ever heard from a politician.
It would have ZERO effect on crime and hurt the ability & rights of lawful citizens.
Not to mention ammunition is protected under the 2nd ammendment... I love when our rights are taxed!

[jpak]

14. The Backlash Cometh

yup