SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Mike Smiddy, D-Hillsdale, is sponsoring legislation to guard against new taxes on ammunition in local communities in Illinois
"Lawful gun owners already face too many barriers when attempting to exercise their Second Amendment rights," Smiddy said. "Gun owners shouldn't have to pick up the tab for the fiscal problems in Illinois."
Some Illinois cities, including Chicago, have proposed imposing a new tax on ammunition to help offset the costs of Illinois' continued budget stalemate and their own fiscal problems. Smiddy believes that the costs for owning and using firearms are already too high. He's sponsoring House Bill 4348; a bipartisan bill which would remove a city’s ability to impose a new tax on ammunition. Additionally, the legislation would remove any tax, beyond the normal sales tax on goods, which currently exists on ammunition in any city or county in the state. Smiddy’s district includes Rock River Arms; a firearms manufacturing facility in Colona Illinois.
"Ammunition and gun manufacturing is an important industry in our area, and these businesses and their consumers can't afford additional taxes which could reduce demand for their product," Smiddy said. "I’ll continue to support the rights of lawful gun owners, and oppose any effort to increase costs or reduce accessibility of our Second Amendment rights.”
For more information, contact Smiddy’s full-time constituent service office at 309-848-9098 or email RepSmiddy@gmail.com.
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