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This is a democrat I bet, plus she is black

ranch hand

Well-known member
Official proposes bullet tax to curb Chicago crime
Associated Press
Thursday, October 18, 2012 2:00 pm


CHICAGO | As Chicago struggles to quell gang violence that has contributed to a jump in homicides, a top elected official wants to tax the sale of every bullet and firearm — an effort even she acknowledges could spark a legal challenge.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle will submit a budget proposal Thursday that calls for a tax of a nickel for each bullet and $25 for each firearm sold in the nation's second-largest county, which encompasses Chicago.

Preckwinkle's office estimates the tax will generate about $1 million a year, money that would be used for various county services including medical care for gunshot victims. Law enforcement officials would not have to pay the tax, but the office said it would apply to 40 federally licensed gun dealers in the county.

Through last week, the city reported 409 homicides this year compared to 324 during the same period in 2011. Although the violence still doesn't approach the nearly 900 homicides a year Chicago averaged in the 1990s, officials say gang violence was largely to blame for a rash of shootings earlier this year.

Preckwinkle insists the ordinance is far more about addressing gun violence than raising money for a county that faces a deficit of more than $100 million next year.

"We think that's an appropriate thing to do, especially in the light of the gun violence we struggle to deal with in our criminal justice system and our public health system," she told a local newspaper editorial board this week, according to a transcript of the meeting provided by her office. "The legal gun shops in suburban Cook County are a conduit for crimes in Chicago. There's no way around it."

Preckwinkle declined to speak with The Associated Press ahead of the announcement Thursday, but her spokeswoman Kristen Mack confirmed the details of the plan.

Mack said the office has found no other jurisdiction in the nation that has imposed a tax on bullets, even though several have considered it. Legislation on such a tax was previously introduced by state lawmakers in Springfield, but it was never been voted on, she said.

Richard Pearson, the executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, scoffs at such talk, saying the tax wouldn't do anything to address gang violence but would harm local businesses and law-abiding citizens.

"If she wants to get to the people causing all the problems she ought to put a tax on street gangs," he said. "All this is going to do is drive business out of Cook County, into other counties, Indiana and Wisconsin."

One suburban gun shop owner agreed, saying that his customers, many of whom are hunters and police officers, will simply go elsewhere.

"Who's going to come to Tinley Park to buy ammunition," said Fred Lutger, the owner of Freddie Bear Sport in that suburban Chicago community.

And, said Lutger of that money going toward treating gunshot victims, "Why should be paying for gang bangers shooting each other? You're taxing law-abiding citizens for what criminals are doing."

Gun rights advocates spent years challenging in court Chicago's handgun ban, which was ultimately overturned in 2010 by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lutger said a lawsuit was certain. Pearson said he and others started talking about a legal challenge as soon as they heard Preckwinkle was considering the tax.

Even Preckwinkle seemed resigned to a legal challenge in her comments to the newspaper board.

"You can't make decisions based on the basis of whether or not somebody's going to sue you or then you'll never do anything," she said.

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Traveler

Well-known member
If the bullet tax went to pay for bounties....like on coyotes, except for gang members.....I could see it's usefulness.
 

Mike

Well-known member
Traveler said:
If the bullet tax went to pay for bounties....like on coyotes, except for gang members.....I could see it's usefulness.

Yep, a majority of the gangbangers guns & ammo is stolen to start with.

If anything, guns & ammo should be free to all thugs.

They'd kill themselves/each other out in just a few weeks.
 

ranch hand

Well-known member
Mike said:
Traveler said:
If the bullet tax went to pay for bounties....like on coyotes, except for gang members.....I could see it's usefulness.

Yep, a majority of the gangbangers guns & ammo is stolen to start with.

If anything, guns & ammo should be free to all thugs.

They'd kill themselves/each other out in just a few weeks.

But Mike there would be no more democrats in Chicago. Why do you think they are for gun control.
 

Mike

Well-known member
ranch hand said:
Mike said:
Traveler said:
If the bullet tax went to pay for bounties....like on coyotes, except for gang members.....I could see it's usefulness.

Yep, a majority of the gangbangers guns & ammo is stolen to start with.

If anything, guns & ammo should be free to all thugs.

They'd kill themselves/each other out in just a few weeks.

But Mike there would be no more democrats in Chicago. Why do you think they are for gun control.

Hmmmmmmmmm, good point.

Well, they're all for Planned Parenthood thinning them out.
 

Steve

Well-known member
Mike said:
Traveler said:
If the bullet tax went to pay for bounties....like on coyotes, except for gang members.....I could see it's usefulness.

Yep, a majority of the gangbangers guns & ammo is stolen to start with.

If anything, guns & ammo should be free to all thugs.

They'd kill themselves/each other out in just a few weeks.

can't we just give them free drugs instead... it would be cleaner, and the gang-bangers would be to stoned to do a driveby..
 

Mike

Well-known member
Steve said:
Mike said:
Traveler said:
If the bullet tax went to pay for bounties....like on coyotes, except for gang members.....I could see it's usefulness.

Yep, a majority of the gangbangers guns & ammo is stolen to start with.

If anything, guns & ammo should be free to all thugs.

They'd kill themselves/each other out in just a few weeks.

can't we just give them free drugs instead... it would be cleaner, and the gang-bangers would be to stoned to do a driveby..

Takes too long that way. Why some of them would live another 2-3 years. :wink:
 

hypocritexposer

Well-known member
Why not just tax the proceeds of crime.

That way , when the criminals file their taxes, you'll also know their address and where to go to pick them up. :lol: :lol:
 

Mike

Well-known member
hypocritexposer said:
Why not just tax the proceeds of crime.

That way , when the criminals file their taxes, you'll also know their address and where to go to pick them up. :lol: :lol:

Sure, that ought to work. :lol:
 

okfarmer

Well-known member
Mike said:
Traveler said:
If the bullet tax went to pay for bounties....like on coyotes, except for gang members.....I could see it's usefulness.

Yep, a majority of the gangbangers guns & ammo is stolen to start with.

If anything, guns & ammo should be free to all thugs.

They'd kill themselves/each other out in just a few weeks.

Not out here, they can't shoot worth a dang.

There was something like 30 some odd shots fired at a range of about 10-20 feet one night between "rival" gangs and not a single idiot was injured. The shot the gas pumps all to Haides. We couldn't even get a break there, it wouldn't blow up.

There was a request by local citizens for the sheriff to provide shooting lessons.

Finally had to just resort to banning a couple from the county.
 
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