California Gov. Newsom Imposes 11 Percent Gun Tax, Other Gun Control Measures

Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a series of new gun control measures on Tuesday, along with a new 11 percent excise tax on purchases of ammunition, firearms, and firearm "precursor" parts. The new 11 percent tax on ammunition, guns, and gun components will go into effect on July 1, 2024. The state excise tax would add to an 11 percent excise tax the federal government already imposes on such purchases. The new law is dubbed the "Gun Violence Prevention and School Safety Act," and calls for all revenue from the firearm excise tax to go toward a variety of gun violence prevention and research programs, as well as a school safety program operated by California's Department of Education. The legislation lays out payment allocations for the first $160 million in revenues under the excise tax program. During a press conference, Mr. Newsom described the firearm-related excise tax as "more of a sin tax," that reflects the societal costs brought on by gun violence. "The health-related costs, the costs borne by the taxpayers for gun violence is off the charts," he added. "Any fiscal conservative should be making that case. The cost of prosecution, defense, the cost of incarceration of people involved in gun violence is extraordinary, and so I think this is a pretty modest investment in prevention and reducing those costs ultimately." Along with the new tax, Mr. Newsom also enacted a bill that limited the range of public places where people with firearm carry permits can go with their weapons. He also introduced a number of other gun-related measures on Tuesday, including a bill revising California's pistol microstamp regulations, and a bill that creates a process by which courts can prohibit people with mental health problems from purchasing or possessing firearms.