Firearms Fairness and Affordability Act
NSSF:
Today, the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF) — the trade association for the firearms, ammunition, hunting and shooting sports industry — applauded Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, for introducing legislation to rectify a longstanding inequity in the frequency with which firearms and ammunition manufacturers pay a federal excise tax on the products they sell.
The firearms and ammunition excise tax (FAET) is a major source of wildlife conservation funding in the United States. The Firearms Fairness and Affordability Act (S. 632) will allow the firearms and ammunition industry to pay the FAET on a quarterly basis, the same payment schedule on which every other industry supporting conservation pays the federal excise tax. Joining Sen. Baucus in introducing this important bi-partisan legislation were Sen. Mike Crapo (R-ID), the current co-chair of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and five other senators.
Currently firearms and ammunition manufacturers must pay the FAET bi-weekly. This payment schedule forces many manufacturers to borrow money to ensure on-time payment, and industry members spend thousands of man-hours administering the necessary paperwork to successfully complete the bi-weekly tax payments — monies that are due to the federal government long before manufacturers are paid by their customers. This legislation will not lower the amount of conservation dollars collected by the tax.
Good. Now, let’s get rid of the tax since the conservation hippies who tend to benefit from it aren’t typically fans of gun owners.
March 20th, 2009 at 11:44 am
While the hippies may not be a fan of guns this tax also benefits hunters greatly. And hunters normaly like guns; excluding the Kerry kind of course.
March 20th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Like Bobby said its good for hunters, so I say keep it. Better yet, lets expand it to backpacks and other outdoor gear so the hippies pay to instead of freeriding off the hunters.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Those taxes also pay for public ranges.
March 20th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Not to mention those taxes also pay for hunter ed programs which, in some states, qualify you for a carry permit.
March 21st, 2009 at 10:50 am
+1 to bombloader’s comments of expanding to other outdoor gear. In fact, tax that stuff at a higher rate.