A Democratic lawmaker has introduced a bill designed to curb sales of semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15, the type of firearm used by the two gunmen in the massacres of Uvalde and Buffalo last month. If passed, the legislation would impose a 1,000% tax on any type of semi-automatic weapon, making firearms prohibitively expensive for most potential buyers.
The new bill, introduced on Tuesday by Virginia MP Don Beyer, comes when a group of 20 senators announced Sunday that they had reached a consensus on the key priorities of an agreement to reform the nation’s gun laws. The 1,000 percent tax on semi-automatic weapons “would give the Senate an option for further action to address the epidemic of armed violence” beyond the reform that is already underway, Beyer said in a statement.
Called the “Assault Weapons Excision Act”, the proposal would add the significant tax to “high-capacity ammunition supply devices and semi-automatic assault weapons, according to the text of the bill. , the semi-automatic rifle allegedly used by the Uvalde shooter would cost $ 18,700, instead of its current price of $ 1,870.
Although most Americans favor stricter gun lawsRepublican lawmakers have opposed the ban on semi-automatic weapons such as the AR-15, which have been used in a number of mass shootings. The AR-15s range in price from $ 500 to $ 2,000, making them affordable for many consumers.
Under the arms reform agreement reached by senators, states would be encouraged to pass “red flag” laws, increase mental health resources, provide funding for school safety resources, clarify the definition of arms dealer federal-licensed firearms and crack down on criminals who illegally purchase and trade in weapons.
Because Beyer’s bill imposes a tax, qualifying it as a measure of revenue, it could be introduced through the conciliation process. This means that it would require the approval of only 50 senators, instead of the 60 votes needed to overcome possible obstructions and pass most of the legislation.
The move could “remove the blockade and do so,” Beyer said in a statement.
The bill exempts federal, state, and local agencies, which means U.S. military and law enforcement agencies would not be subject to tax.
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