E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSA controversial "violence tax" on guns in the Chicago area was approved Friday by Cook County commissioners, NBCChicago.com reported.
The $25 tax on every gun purchased in the county -- city law prohibits gun sales in Chicago -- is meant to offset health care and other costs of gun violence, Board President Toni Preckwinkle said.
"Gun violence is a real problem for us," she said. "It's a problem for us in our criminal justice system and it's a problem for us in our health care system, and I make no apologies for the proposal."
Preckwinkle said the average shooting victim cost taxpayers $52,000 in acute care because nearly 70 percent of the victims don't have health insurance, NBCChicago.com reported.
The vote follows a violent Chicago summer, when some weekends left multiple people killed and dozens of others injured in shootings, NBCChicago.com reported. The city's murder rate is up 25 percent for the year, and the Cook County Jail is near capacity with 9,000-plus inmates.
Watch US News crime videos on NBCNews.com
The National Rifle Association ahead of the vote said the "misguided and burdensome" gun tax "continues to penalize law-abiding gun owners for exercising their fundamental right to keep and bear arms."
The gun tax, which takes effect April 1, was passed as part of Cook County's $2.9 billion spending plan for 2013.
As part of the budget, commissioners also approved a $1 tax increase on each pack of cigarettes, making the county's $6.67-a-pack tax the second-most expensive in the country, behind New York at $6.86, NBCChicago.com reported. The new tax will push the price of a pack to more than $10 when it goes into effect March 1.
Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter
A gambling tax increase that commissioners also approved will impose $1,000 annually on slot machines in the county and $200 on video gambling machines. Rivers Casino in Des Plaines would be affected as well as establishments that approved video gaming.
More content from NBCNews.com:
- CIA Director David Petraeus resigns, cites extramarital affair
- Petraeus' biographer under FBI investigation over access to his email, officials say
- FEMA-funded rapid reconstruction program to begin in NYC, mayor says
- During blackout, man uses Toyota Prius to light house
- Investigator matches blood on Sgt. Bales clothes to DNA from Afghan massacre scene
- Video: Security tape shows man crashing stolen jet
- Hispanics to Obama: We helped you, now you help us
Leave a Comment:
What a bunch of idiots, do they really think the crooks are going to pay there tax, just law abiding citizens will pay, they may cut down on law abiding citizen buying weapons because of cost, that's not going to stop the crooks you people are frigging idiots, who voted you jackasses into office, if you didn't know it was a bad idea you wouldn't have made the disclaimer, I make no apology, your an idiot
And this effects stolen, illegally obtained, smuggled and fast n' furious guns how? This only punishes legal gun purchases. Way to go dumb a@# politicians! That's the way to violate the 2nd Amendment of the U. S. Constitution and insert your ridiculous obsessive compulsive control issues. You can count on the adage that says: My interpretation of :If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it. ~Ronald Reagan -- can be made to fit this situation as: IF IT'S UNCONTROLLED, TAX IT; IF IT'S TO BE CONTROLLED, REGULATE IT AND IF IT MOVES ACROSS THE BORDER, SUBSIDIZE IT.
LIBERALS DON'T NEED..or WANT GUNS...in Chicago or anywhere ..
They KILL American Families.....by TOO MUCH SPENDING..and Too Much Taxing...
TRUE VIOLENCE...Taxing America..to DEATH...
The bigger issue is the government on a regular basis telling citizens to get by with less while they ask for more. The gun tax in Chicago is not going to curb violence or raise any kind of revenue that will justify it. I would guess that Sarah lives in a nice eco-fair trade-going green type life that precludes any real challanges beyond safe debates on the internet. Firearms short of crew served and fully automatic weapons have a place in day to day living because the bad guys will not care if you have a high speed home security system and they are not impressed by your witty anti gun rhetoric. You could try screaming that you voted for Obama and it might help for all of three seconds before they continue to violate you. I feed my family with what I harvest and have worked in Law Enforcement/Corrections all of my adult life. I can tell you from first hand experience that criminals do not care about gun laws, property laws, drug laws or for that matter anything that gets in their way. The underlying issue is making the government accountable for their spending and stop throwing money at the problems. Hey there is a thought, fiscal responsibility not continueing to tax your people to death in a vain attempt to appear like your doing something. The poverty in the inner cities accross this country is crushing us from the inside, period. The question is how do you turn that around with out bleeding the people still working to death?
"the power to tax involves the power to destroy"
Chief Justice John Marshall
Want to cut down on the criminal violence? License responsible citizens to carry firearms in the city and see how the crime rate drops as it has in other areas that have done the same.
but that would take common sense on liberal demoncrat politicians part to enact ccw in ILLinois. If shi%cago could be given to wisconsin and we could form a new state w/o shi%cago in it than you might see some progress.demoncrats don't trust law abiding people with legal firearms....it would threaten their power grabbing liberal demoncrat ideology.
just go to gat guns in east dundee or cabellas in hoffman estates.its only about a 1/2 hour ride outside shi&cago.all crook county is going to do is lose more tax revenue than it will take in by implementing this absolutely ridiculous tax on law abiding citizens.people will take a short drive to the next county over.
Yep, they'll lose the sales tax that would have been paid on the original sale. Stupid is as stupid does!
If the birdbrains in Cook County had the intelligence of a knat they would know this is a silly, stupid and ignorant law. People don't have to buy guns in Cook County or any county in Illinois. Do you REALLY think the crooks are going to abide by this new stupid law? Does this mean that all of the 'security' that Quinn has around his rear end are going to pay this tax on every gun they buy? Are the cops exempt from this l aw or is this just another way to rip off John Q. Public like the politicians in Illinois do on a constant basis? They are going to pay this tax, too? Who and how are they going to inforce it? You want to buy a gun you don't have to buy it in CookCounty is the bottom line, OR the ammo! Are you kidding? Why don't you dope's that run this state stand up and let your brains air out! You come up with some of the most ignorant laws in the land - no wonder Illinois is the laughing stock of the nation and a joke on comedians lips! You've done it the old fashioned way - YOU'VE EARNED IT! TOO BAD YOU DON'T READ THIS, IT MIGHT TELLYOU WHAT PEOPLE REALLY THINK OF YOU - YOU ARE TRULY A PATHETIC BUNCH OF IDIOTS!
Chicago / Illinois. I guess someplace has to have the record of having the most ignorant, corrupt, pandering, retarded, nonsensical, leftist drivel laws and politicians in America. Chicago wins, hands down!!
Crimminals and gang bangers are unaffected because their guns are all black market. How about a long overdue tax on the full and part time druggies. A nice hefty tax on the druggies will defray the costs of law enforcement and may even sober up some of our useless potheads, cokeheads, methheads etc.
I agree: They could deduct a heavy druggie tax from their welfare checks.
Quote: "...the average shooting victim cost taxpayers $52,000 in acute care because nearly 70 percent of the victims don't have health insurance, NBCChicago.com reported."
Well, all of those shooting victims will be required to have health insurance under Obamacare, so that makes the economic cost of gun violence a moot issue, right???? Right???? Rrrrr-iiiiigggghhhttt.
The funny part will be when the same liberal politicians who pushed these gun and cigarette taxes whine and blame Bush when all of the gun dealers and cigarette sales move to neighboring counties, taking with them their employees, payroll taxes, and rent money.
Wow! I find so many sensible comments on here that are collapsed by the community. The best and most sensible ones are even collapsed. This NBC is so much propaganda leaning super heavy in favor of non-sensible radical left wingers that I want my comment collapsed.... Please? So let me say.... In my opinion, if a person pulls a loaded gun on someone in a crime, I think they should be shot in the head the second the gavel comes down in a guilty verdict. Ha ha ha!. I loved the collapsed comments, and I think smart people do to. I agree with the comments pointing to the fact that a lot of you liberals ARE BRAIN DEAD.
I think those collapsed comments are done by the free speech people.
Erecting taxes on any good or service will push more business for that good or service to the black market which is a major source of violence. This is another example of the unintended consequences of government policy.
Perhaps Chicago should consider ending drug prohibition instead.
Chicago is mafia. That $25.00 will go to create more mobster crime and buy them more guns and ammunition. I have a lot of family in Chicago, but if anyone thinks I will ever visit there, I won't.... NEVER!
Why is it ok to cut social programs that provide food, shelter and medicine to the poorest of the poor, but not ok to raise revenue by putting a $25 tax on a $500 gun that is a nice to have, but not a need to have? Seems like skewed priorities. If fiscal conservatives are truly concerned with balanced budgets, why the reluctance to take personal responsibility and contribute to the effort?
I'll try to explain it to you, by typing very slow.
The $25.00 additional tax will drive the sale of that gun to another county or state. Chicago then loses ALL taxes on that weapon.
I take personable responsibility by paying taxes, having a job, sending my kids to school, making purchases locally whenever possible etc, etc. I pay for those social programs and regrettably see little return on my investment. When the data shows over and over again that crime rates are falling, gun violence is no where near the level some would have us believe and that more guns has never led to more violence, why do we continue to put dollars and effort into failed programs of gun control that will be struck down by the courts anyhow. Paying 25$ is not showing personal responsibility.
TundraLeigh, Please take the time to read this...
This law is like putting a bandage on a compound fracture. It has nothing to do and will not help in any manner with the problem. It is the typical one-step thinking brought to us by progressives.
The real cause of all the violence is failed policy within the large cities. The liberal war on poverty has broken apart minority (and now white) families. I have seen this first hand, as I owned a large-capacity childcare center in a larger city. Those that try to help (program administrators) complain about the lack of daddy involvement but push contrary policy. They say one thing out their mouth... another out their arse.
At this point with all the monetary support given out, there is no need for baby-daddies to be around to help raise and support their children. Moreover because of this, now there are not enough mentors of quality to help direct wayward children. Please don't get mad at me for stating the obvious.
When will minorities wake up to the reality of being placed on reservations by rich, white, liberals. Due to the fact of being kept poor (its not conservatives at this point - liberals have run cities for 50-75 years), minorities are destined to remain in certain city neighborhoods. What makes me laugh is that everyone always points out the "racist" Rebublicans. Please go to a typical rich, white, liberal city or neighborbood. There are never any minorities. They are not allowed.
What I don't understand is the assumption that conservatives are uncaring and racist. I am conservative and careless about skin color. None of my friends are racist. I just hate violence, corruption, and any victimization mentalities. I could go on and on with this issue...
Think of the saying "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for an evening. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for a lifetime." Your political party wants to control minorities through the amount of fish given each evening (social programs). A conservative wants to teach people to fish (which requires more time and effort) and they are labeled haters for this. Gun laws have nothing to do with fixing the problems of inner cities. You are being manipulated.
This is the answer to your question.
Do you really think the gangbangers buy there guns from a store. No they get it from the one that paid the exter 25 bucks for it .If you wish to stop the crimes start killing some gangbangers .
i know a good law for Chicago, people should be made to put out a sign in front of there home that reads, I have a Gun and I don't have a gun. I'm sure the homes that have I don't have a gun will not be happy in a few months
Well we all know how prohabition turned out. More gangsters and one even got his some into the white house. So cook county wants to place another tax on its citizens, they are nuts thinking that the revenue that they will generate will do nothing to help their failing economy. Raise the gun tax on lawful citizens then they will get them else where. They will start a new business opportunity to bring in guns from else where, or even another country. Like drugs, that cannot be stopped. We do not have any solid borders so illegals and guns will reach the market place . The cigarette tax is laughable and so foolish.people are already quitting on their own and I have run into older retires that use to smoked, and liked it now have started to smoke pot. Just about the same price and they do not feel like that they are breaking any laws but have been pushed into it by government forces. If people want to smoke, and there will be many, like booze of the 1920's cigarettes will come in from Russia, India, France, any place there is someone ready to take over and fill the void and guess what? No taxes at all! Maybe we could divid the country in half. One half The party in office and the other half people that do not believe that it can work. Equal division, from Wall street, big business ,take a portion of the military, planes , ships men and equipment, start a new currency, passports and most important borders. That way more people could live a better life as they see it. That was done in the Eastern European countries. Yes their biggest problem is like here, corrupt politicians . The Ukraine has survived but they did not get a fair share when they split from The soviet block. Now they are getting better and standard of living is actually going up where the economy here is still going down along with the standard of living. When the taxes are stupid and burdensome to live with, the people will find ways around them. The people just take the lead from the president and that washington bunch. They chose not to act in the peoples best interest then the people will do what they have to do to live better.
Kinda makes ya wanna move to Chicago eh.....
I truly wonder if the people making these laws are really this stupid or they're trying to destroy this country on purpose. I cant seem to get my head around it. You don't have to look far to find out that these types of taxes don't work...the facts and numbers don't lie. It must be the next step in trying to take all of our guns away.
There are two different types involved... The first are those that think with their hearts. They truly believe what they are doing is good for the country. But it is usually a simple, one-step thought process, and it makes them feel good inside. Simply said, they are stupid. The second completely understand what they are doing. They are using the first group to further their hidden agenda of money, power, control, and greed. These are your liberal politicians. They need to be voted out of office.
Orwell couldn't have written it any better with the book, Animal Farm. Remember the pigs originally manipulating the sheep? Then eventually with enough time, the pigs controlled the next generation of dogs (security forces) and kept power through the same force that was used by the farmer. When any animal complained, they were shouted down with meaningless slogans... sound familier.
I think Chicago should ship it's gun wielding criminals to Texas. Heck, pay me $25.00 per and I will execute them myself... I could make a fortune.
Ill do it for $24.50 And be smiling every time I fliped the switch .
I did not know the US had a @!$%#, but I think we found it today, Its Chicago has to be.....
I will pay the $25 extra for my gun. It is going to cost the state alot more than that in crime scene clean up and man hours when one of these criminals steps over my door threshold and gets a double tap to the head or chest. This will not stop the low life's from taking from others. Find another way to stop the crime and not include the cost of crime in the budget.
This law is like putting a bandage on a compound fracture. It has nothing to do and will not help in any manner with the problem. It is the typical one-step thinking brought to us by progressives.
The real cause of all the violence is failed policy within the large cities. The liberal war on poverty has broken apart minority (and now white) families. I have seen this first hand, as I owned a large-capacity childcare center in a larger city. Those that try to help (program administrators) complain about the lack of daddy involvement but push contrary policy. They say one thing out their mouth... another out their arse.
At this point with all the monetary support given out, there is no need for baby-daddies to be around to help raise and support their children. Moreover because of this, now there are not enough mentors of quality to help direct wayward children. Please don't get mad at me for stating the obvious.
When will minorities wake up to the reality of being placed on reservations by rich, white, liberals. Due to the fact of being kept poor (its not conservatives at this point - liberals have run cities for 50-75 years), minorities are destined to remain in certain city neighborhoods. What makes me laugh is that everyone always points out the "racist" Rebublicans. Please go to a typical rich, white, liberal city or neighborbood. There are never any minorities. They are not allowed.
What I don't understand is the assumption that conservatives are uncaring and racist. I am conservative and careless about skin color. None of my friends are racist. I just hate violence, corruption, and any victimization mentalities. I could go on and on with this issue...
Chicago could raise money by forcing gang-bangers to buy hunting permits.