A group of more than two dozen House Democrats introduced a new bill on Friday that proposes a 1,000% excise tax on “assault weapons” and high-capacity magazines. This change would significantly increase the price of a $500 weapon to $5,000, aiming to restrict access to firearms across the country.
Led by Rep. Don Beyer of Virginia, along with 24 other House Democrats, this is the second time they have proposed such legislation. Last year, Beyer and 37 Democrats rolled out a similar idea, but it failed to gain traction when Democrats held the majority in the House.
While the text of Beyer’s new bill has not yet been released, it remains uncertain if any changes were made from the previous version introduced in 2022. Last year’s bill imposed the tax on any magazine or device capable of accommodating more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
The proposed 1,000% tax would also apply to any “semiautomatic assault weapon.” The previous bill defined this as a semiautomatic rifle or pistol with a fixed magazine that holds more than 10 rounds or possesses other specific features.
Under this rule, a firearm that typically costs $2,000 would now require customers to pay over $20,000. Beyer argued last year that this drastic increase could help address the issue of gun violence in the United States.
Beyer emphasized the need for congressional action to combat the influx of “weapons of war” into American communities. He cited mass shootings in various locations, such as schools, grocery stores, hospitals, churches, synagogues, malls, theaters, and bars, as evidence of the urgency to address this issue.
The National Rifle Association (NRA) has criticized the use of the term “assault weapon,” arguing that it was created to deliberately confuse the public and promote the gun control agenda. According to the NRA, the term “assault rifle” only applies to fully automatic weapons, while gun control advocates aim to regulate semi-automatic firearms.
Fully automatic weapons continuously fire rounds as long as the trigger is pulled and are primarily used by the U.S. armed services. The NRA clarifies that they are not easily accessible to the general public, unlike semi-automatic weapons, which discharge a single round per trigger pull.
Beyer’s new bill coincides with a letter from over 100 Democrats urging House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, a Republican from California, to take action on gun control legislation. However, Republican leaders have not indicated any plans to address this issue.
Gun violence prevention advocates assert that implementing such legislation is crucial, as gun violence has become the leading cause of death for children in America since 2020. They highlight the alarming statistics of 1,686 children killed and 4,485 injured by gun violence last year alone.
It is essential for Congress to prioritize and schedule votes on gun violence prevention bills to address this preventable tragedy. However, it remains uncertain if Republican leaders will heed this call for action.
Source: Fox News Digital
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