Cook County Considers Bullet, Gun Tax

[gvw3]

"Gun violence is a real problem for us," Preckwinkle said last week said during a brief meeting with reporters. "It's a problem for us in our criminal justice system and it's a problem for us in our health care system, and I make no apologies for the proposal."
Preckwinkle said acute care for the average shooting victim cost taxpayers $52,000 because nearly 70 percent of the victims don't have health insurance.

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward...174747131.html

These guys and girls HAVE TO GO.

[Double D]

I was just about to post this when I came across your post. This is typical liberal politics at its best. They couldnt fix a minor problem yet alone an issue like this one. What a bunch of jacklegs.

[Blackhawk Dave]

We need to tax politicians in Illinois. Given it's criminal record of corrupt governors, etc, the cost to the state by them is far higher than the cost of taking care of injured people.

[76Highboy]

You see, this is why I don't support a cigarette tax. I don't smoke and I have asthma. However, why tax alcahol and cigarettes to pay for health insurance. Once they get away with taxing one item they will begin taxing many more. And the sleepy head American's will complain and then go on like nothing ever happened. We deserve this treatment until we are ready to stand up againat it.

I say place a "Shooting Skills" penalty for the guy that pulled the trigger because he was not proficient enough to do the job right the first time and did not practice at the range enough. A tax on guns amd ammo would not even deal with the tip of the ice berg. So, if they could miraculosly cure people from getting shot by "Regustered American Guns" and then someone gets killed by a gun that was smuggled in from Hondorous then can we add a "Stupid Politician Tax" to cover that?

[jjmitchell60]

ONLY in a cess pool like Chicago. Of course it is in the city where the White House Lawn Jockey came from with his political career so now we know what is the beginning if that Lawn Jockey is re-elected! We now than ever more need to step up our push for the 2nd amendment and get Obama and his followers out of the White House, Congress, AND the SCOTUS! SCOTUS has already upheld the right to tax as they see fit with Obama care!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Link and story below:



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49458564...urts?gt1=43001
Bullet tax proposal in hunt for solution to Chicago gun crime

Call for a levy of nickel for each bullet and $25 for each firearm sold in the city

By DON BABWIN
updated 10/18/2012 5:34:19 AM ET
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.
Video: Chicago police chief: Tighter guns laws needed (on this page)

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.

Woman loses second grandchild in 6 months to Chicago gun violence

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.

6 dead, at least a dozen wounded in less than 24 hours in Chicago

"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.

Chicago Searches For Ways to End Gun Violence 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.

[carver]

"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.

Oh really! If you make a bad decision in this country, you will probably get sued!

[woolleyworm]

I'll restate her comments with what I view as correct.

Her statement: "Gun violence is a real problem for us. It's a problem for us in our criminal justice system, and it's a problem for us in our health care system, and I make no apologies for the proposal," Preckwinkle said."


How it should read "A moron with no sense of God, family and morals is a real problem for us. It's a problem for us in our criminal justice system, and it's a problem for us in our health care system, and I make no apologies for demanding personal responsibility and accountability for a persons actions."

She needs to go live in the hood for a little while and see how she changes her thinking after they rough up the rich ##### from the good side of town.

[bamajoey]

Build a 15 ft wall around the place, give every person a firearm and 1000 rounds of ammo. Problem solved.

[Double D]

That place is in the process of imploding and its almost amusing to watch. They dont have a clue how to fix their own mistakes and so they try to take it out on the law abiding citizens. Typical liberals. Its hilarious to think these idiots believe criminals will somehow pay more for guns or ammo or that this will hinder them from getting guns. They are flat out stupid. Stupid with a capital S.

[time2shoot]

I'd like to see a polatition who is pro gun, actualy go on public record, asking some one to explain to us how and why criminals abide by any laws or restrictions, that are put on them conserning firearms.

[vytoland]

Originally Posted by bamajoey

give every person a firearm and 1000 rounds of ammo. Problem solved.

the cook county gang bangers have had this for decades. bobby rush, a u.s. representattive, a high school drop out and awol from the army was the co founder of the black panthers. as far back as the 1960's he had unregistered guns, ammunition, explosives, and drugs.

nothing has changed in cook county since then and big brother uses this to stir up the "sheep" and keep the votes and taxes comin in.

[gvw3]

This is only to raise more tax money. The criminals don't care about a tax on guns or ammo. Only the good citizens will pay this.

Think about this. If I go to Cabelas and buy a box of 525 .22 lr shells for $20 on sale I will have to pay $26.25 in tax plus the 10% sales tax of $2.

I have just about had it with these politicians. They are out of there minds. My family has been in Northern Illinois since the early 1800's. I am just about ready to retire and get out of this state.

[montezumaz]

Yeah, a bullet tax is definitely going to keep ammo out of bangers hands.