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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.
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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.
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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.
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EVERY gun purchase?? So if I go out and buy a new muzzleloader I have to pay this tax. How many gangs/criminals do you see packing a muzzleloader. You'd have to go around the block 10 times to make it a drive by shooting.
Leftards think Muzzleloaders come in Semi-Auto & Fully Automatic. Maybe an Assault Muzzleloader????
To Sarrah... You are very lucky ladie that the governent has intruded into everything a (So called) free society is suppose to do for themselves. The reason I say that is because if it wasn't for "Warning" labels on everything Mother Nature would have improved your "gene pool" a long time ago... How sad Liberals are...
Chicago soon to be Detroit. One big controlled burn. LOL
I have a better idea make the losers that go to the hospital for being shot by other losers pay the 25 dollar tax seeing they are the ones causing the issue in the first place. Also let them kill themselves and eventually there wont be any more losers to burden the health care system because they are on welfare and dont have insurance and continue to shoot each other in the hood.
I personnaly feel like the founding fathers of the US, that you should have the right to defend yourself. The Tax is a Demo /Liberal attack on that right. It is a direct attack on womens right to defend themselves in less than desireable areas.
This is a true story think what would have happened to her if she did not have a gun...By the way it took the police 21 minutes to get to her...
Blanchard woman shoots, kills intruder
Blanchard police responded to a home invasion Saturday. Chief Walt Thompson said Justin Shane Martin, 24, of Blanchard, was shot and killed after breaking into a home. A second intruder fled the scene was later surrendered to officers.
BY TIFFANY GIBSON Staff Writer tgibson@opubco.com | Published: January 2, 2012 Oklahoman
BLANCHARD – An 18-year-old woman shot and killed an intruder Saturday after the man forced his way into her home and was carrying a weapon, police said.
Dustin Louis Stewart
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Article Gallery: Blanchard woman shoots, kills intruder
Blanchard Police Chief Walt Thompson said Sarah Dawn McKinley was at home with her 3-month-old son when the home invasion occurred about 2 p.m. Saturday. He said Justin Shane Martin, 24, of Blanchard, entered through the front door and was shot by McKinley in the upper torso.
Officers arrived at the home at 2227 County Road 1280 and found Martin slumped over a sofa with a single gunshot wound. He was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Thompson said another man, identified as Dustin Louis Stewart, 29, of Blanchard, was about to enter the home with Martin when he heard the gunshot. Stewart ran from the scene and later surrendered to officers at the Blanchard Police Department, he said.
Stewart is currently being held in the Grady County jail on a first-degree burglary complaint.
Read more: http://newsok.com/blanchard-woman-shoots-kills-intruder/article/3636876#ixzz2BmyV6ZNX
So why buy a gun legally in Chicago? No reason now, just buy on the black market!
Keep down the working man with your @!$%#ing taxes to fix your out of control government spending, that's a really great idea, filled with intellect! People always find a way to get around something that's displeasing and this is just another one we'll find a way around, as this kind of think ing ( or lack of it) brings out the worst in people. There will be ways others' will find a gun on the illegal market and who's to know? The leaders of this country make me laugh. They cause the problems and then try to find a way to make the working man pay for their lack of making the right calls. It's like the little child who steals a quarter from his mom's purse and then tries to find some way to put it back without her knowing it's gone.
F--ing idiots--they just killed gun sales in the Chicago area---anyone with half a brain will just go buy a gun elsewhere---they would never keep me (a law abiding citizen with a carry permit from another state) from owning a gun in Chicago--but I am not stupid enough to live there.
Thing that gets me is some @!$%# carrying a gun starts a fight and starts getting his ass beat then thinks he can pull his gun and claim self defense.........bs. And don't give me this people with CC are are responsible people....they lose the temple sometimes too ;only takes one time. Most of these shootings we have been reading about this last year were law abiding gun toting accident waiting to happen..get real
That story almost sounds like Trayvons except for the part about who started the fight. The one that started beating on the shooter got what he asked for.
This problem is known as ... The White Man's Burden ... this is what happens when you let the dark element into genteel society ... If you think that be a racist comment ... I do not give a flying flukc. Now go look at the world ... Africa, the Caribbean, Detroit, D.C. ... when you put a black man in charge ... you have Third World status ... OBAMA will do the same to the USA before he is done ... In January 2017 ... the USA will look much like Germany did in May of 1945. Just you wait and see ... but we will all be equal then ... and the rich will be paying their fare share ... probably in another country.
Nuke Chicago. Problem solved.
Sarah, we are going broke because you liberals can't quit spending what they don't have.
Quit stealing from the labors of others. You guys act like its your money.
How about all the rich Libs just solve the problem and donate more money to taxes, since they all seem to claim they don't mind paying more.
and now, only non-taxpaying criminals will have guns.
Logic is something Lost in Chicago.Just like the Voter IDs for the Millions od Dead people who Vote Democrat Every Election ! Law Abiding Citizens Buy Guns to Protect themselves from Criminals. Criminals get Guns illegally ..Because they are Criminals and By definition ..Break Laws...So they punish the people who Obey laws and give the Criminals a Pass ..How about a $5000 fine on Every Criminal who is caught using a gun in a commission of a crime ?? Believe Me ..They could make a Killing on Just the Gang guys that are Killing Every Weekday!!!
New taxes are not needed, spending needs to be slashed. The first 150 years this country was here we had no income tax, no inheritance tax, no sales tax, no capital gains tax, no social security tax and a no million other fees. We had a balanced budget and the whole world was coming here for jobs. Ellis island didn't welcome people to the worker's paradise of Russia after the 1917 revolution did it!
I would like to propose a tax of $20,000.00 on anyone running for political office in cook county. Well, let's make it fair; anyone running for political office in the state of illinois! This tax will be placed in escrow to offset the future cost of imprisonment for said politicians.
What! You say not all politicans are criminals! Well imagine that!!!!
Absolutely brilliant move by CROOK County. I'm sure stores like Cabelas will really feel the pain when more customer's shop elsewhere for their guns, and any smoker is going to buy their supplies in another county or state. Same is happening with Gas, no one I work with buys their gas in CROOK County when surrounding counties are selling gas for less. Typical Demoncrat Logic, Raise Taxes, Lower the Revenue Base.
once again legal bull @!$%# is taxing law abiding citizens and sportsman.Chicago's bureaucratic idiots need to start their own state and leave down state Illinois alone.criminals do not buy their guns at walmart or bass pro and and most law abiding people do not shoot or rob people.i am so tired of being regulated and taxed because some book smart politician has a wild hair up his ass . when the day comes that they try to take are guns away,it will start a war that will make the civil war look like a boy scout picnic. and I,m pacifist at heart.
This just into our Newsroom ...
The Criminal Element Union Representatives in Chicago has announced this evening they will begin using PREDATOR DRONES to circumvent the payment of the tax.
Liberals tell me guns don't discourage crime. Which three of these headlines don't seem familiar to you?
"Shooter kills many at high school"
"Gunman massacres dozens in local church"
"Killer guns down several at restaurant"
"Man goes on shooting rampage at NRA convention"
"Many injured by gunman at hunting camp"
"Several dead after shooting spree at target range"
Wow.
A $25 tax on a weapon that would normally cost hundreds anyway.
Big deal.
Tax me.
Leave it to a Northern state to have to do something stupid like this.
If you enforce the law and take down known gangs, you would not have these problems.
Besides.
It's not like I buy a hundred a year.
You just can't make this stuff up. It will be great fodder for comedians. If I purchase a $500 - $1,000 pistol, I'm so worried. Oh yeah, how many of the criminals brandishing weapons are using guns they purchased and registered? I think the term is "insignificant." Most are stolen or smuggled.
This is bull crap. Why should responsible gun owners like myself have to pay for crimes commited by others. Like a previous poster said, then they need to tax pregnant women and the father's. And they should also be required to pass a partenting class and psychological test before they are handed over the babies.
Do you think you could demand that your elected officals JUST STOP SPENDING!! The officals beg you to vote for them, then tell you that we will protect your rights, protect your family, stop tax abuse and then " oh we can only do this if you give us more money" I dont understand. I work in some of the toughest areas in Houston, the police will be about 2 minutes late if you are in trouble. You have to stand on your own two feet...
Poor Sarah. Confessing herself to be wise she comes across as a fool.
This isn't about "anti-violence", it's about "anti-gun", "anti-personal protection", criminals amd gang bangers won't be affected by this, be cause they don't buy their guns in stores, they buy them on the street, steal them during home invasions, etc...Cook County leaders are failures at best, and at worst, they just put their constituents at more risk than ever...