California’s gone full Commiefornia once again.
The state, already known for its strict gun control measures, has taken further steps to infringe on personal freedoms and complicate the lives of law-abiding citizens.
Two new regs take effect starting July 1, 2024.
State Tax on Guns
One of the most contentious new laws is the Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act, which imposes an additional 11% state tax on firearms and ammunition sales.
This tax is in addition to existing federal taxes (10-11%), significantly increasing the cost of purchasing firearms and ammo in the Golden State.
Anti-gunners argue that the estimated $160 million raised annually will fund “violence prevention programs,” but the reality is this is a punitive measure that disproportionately affects responsible gun owners.
As we all know, this demographic already complies with California’s rigorous background checks and ownership regulations.
Not to mention the additional financial burden will work to discourage those in poor neighborhoods — those who statistically need firearms the most for personal defense — from exercising their right to keep and bear arms.
So, the real intent of this law is to make firearm ownership more expensive (disarm the poor and vulnerable), tax the law-abiding, and then funnel millions of dollars to the cronies and bureaucrats who oversee these programs.
No doubt that these violence prevention initiatives will be as “successful” as the state’s existing programs combating the homelessness crisis. LOL. Taxpayers have spent $20 billion on ending homelessness over the years and the problem has only gotten worse.
From the April 2024 audit:
More than 180,000 Californians experienced homelessness in 2023—a 53 percent increase from 2013. To address this ongoing crisis, nine state agencies have collectively spent billions of dollars in state funding over the past five years administering at least 30 programs dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Tracking Gun Purchases
Additionally, a new regulation spearheaded by San Francisco Assemblymember Phil Ting (D) requires financial institutions to monitor firearm sales through a new merchant category code.
This law aims to flag “suspicious purchasing patterns,” such as multiple purchases over consecutive days. Ting believes this will prevent mass shootings.
“What we’ve seen in the past is mass shooters have used credit cards to do multiple purchases at multiple stores, or they do multiple purchases at the same store,” he told Fox11 Los Angeles.
“But going back like one day after another, that’s very suspicious activity. Credit card companies could flag that and then report that to law enforcement,” Ting added.
It goes without saying but tracking one’s spending on firearms is an insane overreach by the state.
Furthermore, and this is key, it will do nothing to prevent determined individuals from acquiring weapons illegally. Nada.
Instead of adding layers of surveillance that infringe on privacy rights, resources would be better spent enhancing existing enforcement measures for laws already on the books. That’s a no-brainer.
Conclusion
These laws not only fail to address the root causes of gun violence—such as mental health issues and illegal firearms trafficking—but they systematically work to erode constitutional rights. They also, by design, increase the size and scope of Big Brother.
In short, more taxes. More surveillance. But what do you expect?
It’s Commiefornia for a reason.
*** Buy and Sell on GunsAmerica! All Local Sales are FREE! ***
Read the full article here