California's new gun and ammo tax takes effect
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Rebeccca Zisser/Axios
A new law that doubles the tax on guns and ammunition purchased in California took effect today.
Why it matters: The new state excise tax is the first of its kind in the country, and the money it's expected to generate — $160 million annually — will go towards gun violence prevention efforts, including in schools.
Zoom in: The 11% tax imposed on sales by firearms dealers and manufacturers, as well as ammunition vendors, is in addition to the federal excise tax of 10% on wholesale prices for handguns and 11% for long guns and ammunition.
- The money will fund two state programs that work to prevent school shootings and boost security, bolster firearm investigations and remove guns from domestic abusers, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office.
Catch up quick: Newsom signed the legislation last September in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that expanded gun rights.
- He said it will make communities safer, and some researchers suggest the tax will reduce gun sales and demand.
- The California Rifle and Pistol Association (CRPA) called the law unconstitutional and said the new tax, collected from consumers through retailers, "represents a substantial financial burden on law-abiding gun owners."
The latest: CRPA plans to challenge the new tax in court once it's been paid.
Between the lines: California has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, which Newsom has bolstered since taking office in 2019.
- He's signed dozens of gun-control measures, though some face legal challenges.
- The new law banning the carrying of firearms in most public places was blocked from taking effect in January because of a court case.
- Last year, Newsom also proposed a constitutional amendment to restrict gun ownership that has since stalled.
Context: California has the seventh-lowest gun death rate in the U.S.
- With about nine deaths for every 100,000 people, the state's gun-death rate is 43% better than the national rate, a 2023 state report shows.
- In San Diego, gun-related homicides dropped in 2022, reversing a four-year trend.
Yes, but: Mass shootings in California have increased since 2020.