U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- As the saying goes, “If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.” Democratic New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is taking the mantra to a new level by proposing “stronger gun control” in the Garden State. This time, he’s using the COVID-19 pandemic to raise taxes on law-abiding gun owners and those wishing to exercise their Second Amendment rights.
Gov. Murphy has tried his best during the crisis to penalize lawful gun owners, but now it will be up to the state legislature to approve or reject his new antigun proposals. New Jersey residents shouldn’t hold their breath as antigun Democrats control both chambers by wide margins.
Gun Control for You is Nothing New
More gun control has been a pillar for Gov. Murphy since he took office in 2018. In his first two years in office, he pushed for and signed into law 10 more-stringent gun control laws in a state already known for having some of the strictest gun laws in the country. In 2020, the spreading coronavirus pandemic gave him an opportunity to do even more, and he didn’t delay.
Nearly 5 million Americans became so concerned for their safety and that of their loved ones and property that purchased a firearm for the first time. The reasons were all around us. Reports of local law enforcement becoming stretched thin, criminals being released from jails and quickly committing violent crimes again, and now more recently violent riots and looting in cities and cries of “defund the police” have increased.
Gov. Murphy, who now wants to levy more fees and taxes to close the COVID budget gaps, actively worked to keep gun buyers out of stores. He shut down firearm retailers and related businesses, deeming them “non-essential” at a time when they were most essential. He faced immediate backlash and lawsuits, leading him to backtrack and allow retailers to open again. Gov. Murphy tried explaining his reasoning, stating “I wasn’t thinking about the Bill of Rights.”
Raising Taxes as Means for More Gun Control
New Jersey is already known as a high-taxed blue state operating in the red. Now, to address next year’s budget shortfall and seeing an opportunity to further squelch the Second Amendment, Gov. Murphy proposed massive taxes and fees on firearms and ammunition such that he’d price out thousands of law-abiding citizens from exercising their God-given rights enshrined and protected by the Second Amendment.
Murphy’s budget proposal attempts to close a $5.6 billion – with a “B” – hole in the Garden State by hiking taxes and fees on firearm services and businesses that might generate $6 million. That amounts to one-tenth of one percent. It’s antigun window dressing and the governor knows it.
Gov. Murphy’s proposed antigun increases include raising the handgun purchasing permit fee 2,400 percent from $2 to $50; the cost of a firearm ID card by 1,900 percent from $5 to $100; the price of a handgun carry permit 7,900 percent from $50 to $400; the fee for a gun retail dealer license by 9,900 percent from $50 to $500; and the fee for a firearm manufacturer 900 percent from $150 to $1,500. There are, or course, additional fee increases as well.
If it all sounds familiar, it is. Gov. Murphy tried and failed at this scheme before. This time, though, he’s tying it to a pandemic.
With more New Jersey handgun applications submitted so far in 2020 than in 2018 and 2019 combined, it’s no wonder law-abiding firearm owners, as well as those considering purchasing a gun for the first time, feel threatened. In trying to persuade the Democratic-controlled New Jersey legislature to approve his budget, Gov. Murphy assured elected officials these are “judiciously” considered hikes that are needed. In other words, be thankful the punishment doesn’t go further.
Antigun Birds of a Feather
Gov. Murphy isn’t alone in using the pandemic to infringe on the constitutional rights of lawful Americans. Gov. Murphy’s northern neighbor, New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, behaved similarly as did New Mexico Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. These three governors have something else in common. They all forced gun stores to close during the pandemic despite the Department of Homeland Security saying gun stores are essential business.
So far this year more than 5 million Americans felt so compelled to protect themselves and their families that for the first time they exercised their Second Amendment rights and purchased a firearm. Thousands are from states with these governors at the top.
Punishing those who exercise their rights is abhorrent. Using it as an excuse to cover for poor leadership during a health crisis is not the sort of behavior citizens should expect from their governors.
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org
Typical democrat politician who never met a tax he didn’t like and he doesn’t want to let a crisis go to waste.
This guy has shown his distaste for the Jersey citizens and this will most likely cost the taxpayers more money when these fee’s are put in place by the lawsuit that will end up in court by some pissed off groups.
As stated in McCulloch v Maryland, the power to tax is the power to destroy. On the principle that you can sue for anything perhaps someone will hit upon suing to annul excessive taxes on firearms and ammunition.
“I wasn’t thinking about the Bill of Rights.” Possibly the most honest words spoken by a modern progressive.
There is room for honest disagreement in American politics, but so many liberals have slipped over into being at war with freedom. On the issue of guns they apparently feel they can let their true colors show.
“fee for a firearm manufacturer 900 percent from $150 to $1,500”
Let me get this straight: NJ is facing a big budget deficit and he wants to increase fees that will discourage businesses from operating there, cost jobs, and likely be the straw that breaks the camel’s back that triggers businesses to leave the state? The other fee increases will cause the same sort of things for individuals and reduce tax revenue. Smooth move, governor.
Well . . . you gotta “dance around” the killing of the bill of rights, ya know!
Don’t worry . . . if the Supremes keep looking the other way it’s just a matter of time before ALL American Citizens are either disarmed, or transformed into felons, by unconstitutional laws.
. . . and so far – MASS NON-COMPLIANCE BY A CITIZENRY OF NOW ARMED FELONS WHO WOULD RATHER “FIGHT THAN SWITCH” SEEMS TO BE THE REPLY!
The communist democrat party is NOT AN OPTION!
DEFEND AMERICAN FREEDOMS!
Taxation on a good causes a cooling effect in its sales.
That cooling effect on a right is by definition infringement.
didn’t he kill enough seniors by putting Wuhan virus patients into nursing homes? with his taxing schemes it seems like he wants to reduce the population of nj with firearms used by criminals. as always these tax schemes do not have the intended effect as demonstrated across the country in seattle, they never have, never will. hopefully, all the first time firearms buyers during this scamdemic/plandemic experiencing these draconian laws and taxes will change their mind and change nj into a red state. perfect example of leftsit governments doing what they want when in office and not following the law,… Read more »
The first thing all these proposals do is punish the poor.
Just like the NFA, $200 was a lot of money in 1934.
It’s crazy with the current state our country is in, domestic terrorist riots all over and city leaders start defunding the police and allowing all this lawlessness.
“the fee for a gun retail dealer license by 9,900 percent from $50 to $500”
It’s 1000%.
https://answers.everydaycalculation.com/percent-is/500-50
Your Math is wonky.
Your other percentages are also wrong.
Enter any two numbers at the bottom calculator.