I traveled east through the burn scarred badlands of San Bernardino county
arriving at the Bass Pro Shop in beautiful Rancho Cucamonga. I picked up 10 cases of 20 gauge target AA's and Herters
to shoot through a new to me Model 21 Trap/Skeet.
I knew it was coming but this was my first experience with the States new Excise tax on anything firearms related.
I will sleep better knowing that my combined sales and excise tax, 18 3/4% (almost $200), will somehow save lives.
What a crock!
Bob, a lot of those excise taxes got to wildlife conservation. Been that way for a long, long time. I suppose California has some extra new taxes, but at the federal level, you have been paying excise taxes all of your life.
Federal Aid In Wildlife Restoration Act
Commonly known as Pittman-Robertson after its sponsors, this 75-year-old legislation established an excise tax on firearms and ammunition. Monies go into the Interior Department and are distributed to states, which match the funds with 25 percent of monies from hunting license sales. On average, North Carolina receives about $13 million per year for wildlife research, management, and habitat protection. Species such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, and wood ducks are shining examples of restoration supported by the legislation. This “tax legislation on sportsmen,” which actually was adopted during the Great Depression, is a shining beacon in the history of wildlife legislation and proves that dedicated revenue collections can indeed be accomplished.