[colt45]

National Ammo Day Targets 'Gun Grabbers'
By Michael L. Betsch
CNSNews.com Staff Writer
October 17, 2002

(CNSNews.com) - A coordinated effort has been launched to place billions of bullets in the hands of American gun owners to protest the politicians and "gun grabbers," who according to the organizer of National Ammo Day, want to disarm law abiding citizens by over-taxing their ammunition.

"There have been million-men marches and a million moron mommies," said Ammo Day organizer Kim du Toit. "It's time for a billion rounds to show the gun-grabbers and the nanny-legislators just how many Second Amendment supporters are out there."

Du Toit said he's calling on America's 75 million gun owners to "buycott" their local gun shop, sporting goods or hardware store on Nov. 19 by purchasing every round of ammunition on the shelves. He figures if every gun owner or Second Amendment supporter bought 100 rounds, there would be 7.5 billion rounds in the hands of law-abiding citizens.

And, you don't need to be a gun owner to support National Ammo Day.

Du Toit said non-gun owners could purchase ammunition and donate it to their local police department or Boy Scout troop. However, he suggested getting the police department's approval prior to dropping off ammunition at the local precinct.

While skeptics may question the financial motives behind du Toit's buycott, he emphasized that he is in no way affiliated with any of the ammunition or firearms manufacturers and that nobody will receive any "kickbacks" at the end of the day.

Du Toit said he was motivated to organize National Ammo Day as a result of Democratic legislators attempting to increase taxes on ammunition. Over the past three years, he said Democrats in three states have introduced bills attempting to do just that.

An ammunition tax bill (SCA 12) proposed earlier this year by Calif. state Senator Don Perata would have imposed a five-cent tax on each round of ammunition sold in the state, The bill was pulled from the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee agenda for lack of committee support.

Perata's spokesman, Simeon Gant, said the revenue generated by the tax would have been used to fund hospital emergency departments and trauma centers that treat injuries caused by bullets.

While Gant acknowledged that the overwhelming majority of law abiding gun owners do not use their guns to commit criminal acts, he said the state needs to find a viable means of helping hospitals recoup their financial losses after treating uninsured gunshot victims.

"You know, part of our job is to find money," Gant said. "We weren't focusing on criminals or non-criminals."

Six Democratic delegates to the Maryland state House sponsored the Ammunition Tax (HB 1125) in 1999 to reduce the "enormous strain on state and local public finances due to increased costs of emergency medical services, public safety, and correctional services."

Before it was killed in committee, the bill proposed "establishing the rate of the ammunition tax at 50 cents per round for ammunition other than anti-personnel ammunition and $5 per round for anti-personnel ammunition."

In a similar failed attempt to generate revenue, former Democratic Illinois state Senator Arthur Berman sponsored the Ammunition Tax Act (SB 0441) in 1999, which would have imposed a "100-percent or a 200-percent tax, depending on the type of ammunition, on persons engaged in the business of selling ammunition and on the privilege of using ammunition in the state."

The bill stipulated that revenue generated by the tax would be managed by the Department of State Police and distributed to local police departments throughout Illinois.

According to du Toit, the ammunition tax flows out of the sin taxes placed on alcohol and tobacco.

"A tax on ammunition would follow in this tradition where the state acts on the basis of a consensus that a certain commodity has negative external effects and affects the common welfare," he said.

Du Toit said he believes ammunition taxes force gun owners to pay a premium for their hobby or for the privilege of self-defense.

Efforts by CNSNews.com to reach The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and the Violence Policy Center for comment were not returned.

E-mail a news tip to Michael L. Betsch.

[Mandy]

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

I buy over 200 rnds every week so I guess every week I'm at the range is ammo day allready.

:assult: :assult: :assult: :assult: :assult:

[Sniper[MI]]

Howdy,

Well, since I just bought a new 12 Ga, and I need some ammo, I will have to go buy a 100rd box tomorrow.

I suppose I can hold out with the 1100 rds of .22lr, 100 rds of 20ga and 150 rds of 9mm till then.......but I feel as if I am dangerously low right now........

Ah hell! I will buy some for all tomorrow and some more for all on the 19th!!

But I do have a question, how can buying ammo be a boycott? Unless it is a Bizzaro Boycott!!!! LOL!


"N e w m a n....."

" J e r r y..."

[Shaun]

I make all my ammo

[oneastrix]

I'm in...good cause to support!

[Sniper[MI]]

Howdy,

Picked up 250 rds for the new 12 ga. I should be good to go till ammo day, unless I do something stupid like go to the range before then......

A gun with now ammo is just a really cool looking paperweight.