The Tax Bite
on Everyday Products….GUNS

Even though you pay considerable taxes for police protection, too often that protection fails, particularly in some areas of the country that are overwhelmed by crime. Consequently, many citizens may feel the need to purchase a gun to protect themselves and their families. What they probably don’t realize is how much the government taxes this decision to seek self-protection.

All gun sales are subject to a 10 percent federal excise tax paid directly by the consumer. The buyer must also pay state and local sales tax, averaging about 6 percent. So right off the top, 15 percent of the price of a legal gun goes to the government in taxes.

But that is only the beginning. Other taxes imposed on the manufacturer account for 30 percent of the sale price. Counting what the consumer pays, taxes consume 46 percent of what the purchaser pays for a legal gun.

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