People interested in buying certain semiautomatic firearms could be priced out of the market under a proposal supported by more than two dozen House Democrats.
Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.) introduced legislation on Aug. 4 that would impose a 1,000 percent excise tax on purchases of “assault weapons” and “large capacity ammunition feeding devices.” The tax means that someone looking to purchase a $500 rifle, for example, would have to pay an extra $5,000 on top of the purchase price.
Twenty-four other Democrat lawmakers are co-sponsors, although Mr. Beyer has yet to submit language for the bill.
The measure’s language could follow the same template as his proposal last year, which he called the “Assault Weapons Excise Act.”
Federal law already imposes a 10 to 11 percent excise tax on all gun purchases.
2022 Bill
Mr. Beyer’s 2022 proposal defined “large capacity ammunition feeding devices” as those made for or capable of being modified to hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition. “Assault weapons” included semiautomatic rifles with an adjustable stock, pistol grip, forward grip, threaded barrel, or functional grenade launcher that’s also capable of accepting a detachable magazine or a semiautomatic rifle with a fixed magazine capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition.
That language would encompass widely owned semiautomatic rifles such as the AR-15.
A semiautomatic pistol that can accept a detachable magazine and has a threaded barrel, barrel shroud, second pistol grip, the ability to accept a magazine at any point other than the pistol grip, that weighs more than 50 ounces, or includes a stabilizing brace or protruding buffer tube was also considered an “assault weapon” under the 2022 bill, as is a pistol with a fixed-magazine with a capacity greater than 10 rounds.
A semiautomatic shotgun with a fixed magazine capacity greater than five rounds or the ability to accept a detachable magazine that also has a grip or adjustable stock is also deemed an “assault weapon” in the 2022 measure.
By Ryan Morgan
