Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has proposed taxing bullets (5 cents) and firearms ($25) in the county (which includes Chicago) in a stated attempt to address the mostly gang-related violence that has significantly increased this year. Of course, the National Rifle Association is on the case against this mess. I believe that it's a ridiculous idea, since: (1) it punishes law-abiding Chicagoans for protecting ourselves, as only law-abiding folks will be affected by this tax; and (2) the Cook County Board needs to trim all the fat from all of its ridiculously-overpaid staff positions (among other things), if it wants to slash the county's $260 million deficit; and (3) folks will simply make a quick trek to DuPage County, Will County, or other surrounding counties to buy their firearms so the county won't meet its projected $1 million windfall from this tax. Other bookeristas weigh in on the proposal:
"Why Not Instead Tax The Actual Criminals?"
Asks Nadra Enzi, a crime prevention advocate and moderate-conservative Republican blogger in Louisiana: "Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wants to fine lawful gun owners a nickel per bullet and a whopping $25 a gun sold in her city.
Please note I write 'fine' and 'lawful gun owners' since this tax wouldn't stop chocolate Klansmen there since the black market is where they get their weaponry and ammunition. They don't do showing IDs and ATF database checks because they are criminals and need untraceable tools of the trade.
It may make straw buyers dig deeper on behalf of thugs they purchase for but at day's end won't reduce the murder rate."
Mr. Enzi continues his commentary: "Since government overreach is Chicago's order of the day why not impose a local 'public safety tax' on felons with violence and drug convictions?
In a city like Chicago that could be the stimulus package they're seeking as millions roll in.
Making purchases more expensive for lawful gun owners isn't going to make Chicago safer. Until brothers freedom march out of the chocolate Klansmen mindset, the murder rate spirals.
Making peace with America within themselves means more peaceful inner city streets. It's up to the individual - not distant institutions!
But I do understand the desperation fueling this proposal."
"A Ridiculous Idea"
Asserts Lenny McAllister, a conservative Republican in D.C.:
"This is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard of. It’s
another example of an ivory-towered, highbrow solution from detached
legislators. A lot of time, what you see from people that are often
removed – often times from the very far left and progressives – are
approaches from legislators that are detached from problems and giving
highbrow solutions to issues that need folks to roll up their sleeves in
order to resolve…(And to solve these problems, you must remove the
apathy)."
Bookeristas Cry Foul Over Chicago's Bullet Tax Proposal
