I oppose SB763

I oppose SB763

I oppose SB763.

I Oppose SB763. The 2nd Amendment says that the right of the people to keep and bear arms SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED. Taxing ammunition is an impediment to maintaining a free society against tyranny!

I oppose SB763.

I oppose SB763. Why is this needed when shooters and hunters already pay taxes for conservation --- far more than any other segment of society? Don't pay for more government programs on our backs.

I respectfully urge the subcommittee to vote NO on SB763. Reducing gun violence is an important and shared goal. However, SB763 raises significant economic and constitutional concerns and lacks built-in accountability safeguards. First, although the tax is formally imposed on manufacturers, established economic research on excise taxation demonstrates that such taxes are frequently passed forward, in whole or in part, through the supply chain depending on market conditions. To the extent that occurs here, the practical effect could be higher costs for Virginia distributors, retailers, and ultimately consumers — including law-abiding citizens who purchase firearms and ammunition for lawful purposes such as self-defense, hunting, sport shooting, and collecting. Second, SB763 applies a substantial percentage-of-gross-receipts tax to a narrowly defined segment of lawful commerce involving firearms and ammunition. Given that firearms are protected under the Second Amendment, legislation that singles out this industry for additional targeted taxation may raise constitutional questions and warrants careful scrutiny. Third, under the current language of the bill, revenue generated by this tax would be deposited into the Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund. The bill does not contain a sunset provision, performance benchmarks, or statutory mechanisms requiring measurable outcomes tied to the tax revenue. As drafted, this would establish a permanent tax without explicit accountability metrics to evaluate whether the funded programs achieve their intended results. For these reasons, I respectfully ask the committee to vote NO on SB763 and instead pursue evidence-based public safety strategies that do not rely on targeted gross-receipts taxation of a lawful industry. Thank you for your consideration.

I strongly oppose the 11% sin tax on firearms and ammunition, which is effectively an ADDITIONAL tax on exercising a constitutional right. Firearms and ammunition are already taxed heavily due to import fees, sales tax, and the Pittman-Robertson taxes. This additional fee simply makes access to firearms and ammunition more burdensome and costly for law abiding citizens, many of whom are already struggling under the financial strain of inflation. Across the commonwealth there are many thousands of people who hunt for game as a significant portion of their diet, and this proposed tax increase is just another way the cost burden of government activity falls on the shoulders of the financially strained average citizen. I implore the house representatives to vote against this tax increase. Democrats ran on a platform of affordability, and this is exactly the opposite- creating a tax on legal, constitutionally protected activity that falls on citizens and does nothing to prevent crime or minimize the negative externalities of firearm ownership.

This in regard to the 'Retail sales and use tax; firearm and ammunition tax'. I oppose SB763 My question is, why are we taxing yet another right that we as US citizens have. And to make it even more insulting is that it's twice as high as the standard sales tax in which we already have to pay during the sale of ammunition and/or firearms. This just proves that those who speak of protecting citizens rights, really don't actually care about protecting it and want to slowly strip our rights. In this case, making practicing their rights that much more unaffordable which is arguably the same thing. Anyone with eyes and ears can see that this is the first step of that. If this is voted through, we're going to end up exactly like a California or a New York and the people who voted this to pass won't be there to face the consequences, but we the people, will.

I oppose bill SB763

I support this bill because it will generation tens of millions of dollars in new revenue for gun violence prevention efforts in Virginia.

As the Manager, Mid-Atlantic States for the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation (CSF), I respectfully urge you to oppose Senate Bill 763 (SB 763) – discriminatory legislation that would establish an 11% excise tax rate for firearms and ammunition manufacturers, intended to provide funding for the “Virginia Gun Violence Intervention and Prevention Fund” which will likely result in the financial burden falling upon law abiding sportsmen and women. Virginia’s sportsmen and women are already the backbone of the funding structure for conservation efforts that benefit wildlife and their habitat throughout the Commonwealth, as well as the citizenry at large. The passage of financially discriminatory legislation like SB 763, will likely result in an unintended and consequential diminishment of the state’s conservation funding.

I oppose SB763 and I do not wish to have this passed and so do a lot of my fellow voters

I oppose this bill on the increasing of 11% tax will hurt the normal middle class, struggling already with a high taxes in Virginia. This bill will only allow the Rich to be able to purchase it will hurt the normal middle class law abiding citizens

I oppose SB763. We already are taxed heavily enough in Virginia and on shooting sports especially.

I oppose HB763 and all increase in taxes especially those that infringe upon constitutional amendments.

I oppose HB763

I appose SB763

I oppose SB763

I am writing in opposition to SB 763 and the proposed increase in taxes on firearms and ammunition in Virginia. This bill raises the cost of lawful firearm ownership and raises the cost of training at the same time. That is a public safety problem, not a solution. When prices go up, people train less. That applies to regular citizens, new gun owners, off duty law enforcement officers, and service members who often pay out of pocket to maintain skill and confidence with live ammunition outside of minimum qualification requirements. If Virginia makes training more expensive, Virginia will end up with more people owning firearms and fewer people getting meaningful practice. That does not reduce risk. It increases it. Less training means lower proficiency, weaker safety habits, and more mistakes. In the case of law enforcement, that can create a serious downstream issue because reduced individual training can contribute to poor weapon handling under stress and a greater chance of negligent or avoidable shootings. Even if some agency purchases are treated differently, the practical cost pressure does not disappear. If officers and personnel cannot afford to train at the same level on their own, agencies will face pressure to absorb more of that cost to maintain readiness. That means more budget pressure on departments and more cost passed back to government. In other words, this tax can still lead to higher public expense while making private training less accessible. I also do not believe the best use of this revenue is to expand another violence prevention funding structure that may spend years producing studies, meetings, and administrative overhead with little measurable improvement in day to day safety. Virginia should be investing in outcomes that are immediate, practical, and easy to measure. If the state wants to use firearm related revenue to improve safety, it would make more sense to direct that money into firearm training tax credits, certified safety course support, secure storage rebates, and other incentives that increase responsible ownership and real proficiency. That approach helps the public, supports safety, and encourages the exact behaviour we should want from lawful gun owners. Virginia is a state with a large population of lawful gun owners. A policy that raises the cost of training is a policy that can reduce training. A policy that reduces training can make communities less safe. If the goal is public safety, the state should support training and safe storage instead of taxing the tools and ammunition people use to become more responsible and more proficient. For these reasons I respectfully urge opposition to SB 763 or, at minimum, a major revision that redirects any related revenue into direct firearm safety training incentives and safety equipment rebates that produce clear public safety benefits.

I oppose SB763 as it's a tax designed to prevent lower and middle class citizens from exercising their constitutional rights.

I oppose SB763. I am a registered Democratic voter and I'm advising against this. Our new governor ran on affordability, so this new tax is not a great look. New Mexico just killed some proposed gun legislation, now it's our turn. Kill this is expensive bill before it causes legal challenges for our great state, or cause the SCOTUS to rule against us. This will also make Republicans turn out and make us lose the redistricting vote! We need to be smart here. Again, I'm a registered Democratic voter for many years, and I do not want this. Virginia is different from California or New Jersey and it always will be. Nicholas Hertzler 1708 East market Street Charlottesville, Virginia 22902

I oppose SB763. While the second amendment might be unique in that you need to buy the tools to exercise it, the government should not be making it more difficult to exercise any right.

Owning and practicing using a firearm is already prohibitively expensive, especially as the price of ammunition has skyrocketed in recent years. This is a regressive tax that would serve as little more than a barrier to prevent economically disadvantaged Virginians from exercising their rights. It is no more defendable than a poll tax.

I oppose sb763

Oppose SB763, Retail sales and use tax; firearm and ammunition tax. Imposing an 11% tax increase on firearms and ammunition is unwarranted and unjustified. This legislation does not deter or prevent crime. It does not keep firearms or ammunition out of the hands of criminals or individuals that are not legally authorized to purchase, possess or transport firearms. This legislation does not hold convicted criminals, violent offenders or repeat offenders accountable for their actions. An excise tax already exists on firearms, ammunition and sporting goods equipment. We do not need duplicate and double taxation. This is taxation without Representation. Put it on the ballot! Let the people decide what their taxes will be. Article 1, Section Section 2. People the source of power. That all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people, that magistrates are their trustees and servants, and at all times amenable to them.

I oppose SB763

I oppose SB763.

Dear Senators, As a Virginia resident I urge you to appose the egregious and punitive 11% tax on firearms and ammunition Sal DeGennaro

I oppose SB763

I oppose this bill because it punishes lawful gun owners by making them pay more to practice responsible gun ownership. Being a responsible gun owner requires commitment and training and that means using a considerable amount of ammo at the range. 90% of firearms used in crime are either bought illegally or stolen - so taxes would not apply and they would not help curb crime or violence in any way. This bill will only effect responsible gun owners who are trying to improve their skills to better protect themselves and their families. We all want to same thing - to end gun violence in Virginia. This bill will not do that.

I oppose SB763. We need to support victims and improve public safety but we should not penalize law abiding citizens. Please making housing, travel, medical care, education, and food affordable and fix the economy.

I oppose SB763. This bill imposes a regressive 11% excise tax on firearms and ammunition on top of Virginia’s existing sales tax. This proposal primarily taxes lawful, regulated retail purchases, not the people committing gun violence. It is fundamentally unfair to make responsible Virginians pay a special surcharge for crimes they did not commit. If the goal is to fund violence-prevention efforts, the funding mechanism should target violent offenders, not lawful commerce. Instead, the General Assembly should consider approaches that require those convicted of gun crimes to contribute (e.g., restitution or work programs), rather than pricing out lawful citizens who are trying to train to remain proficient and safe. The bill is also likely to be counterproductive for revenue. Tripling the effective tax burden on these products increases incentives to buy out of state, delay purchases, or avoid the market entirely. This means Virginia could plausibly collect less revenue, not more, while harming in-state small businesses. Even the Department of Taxation describes its revenue estimate as speculative and the actual revenue impact as uncertain. These bills also expand government bureaucracy and impose new compliance burdens on Virginia businesses. The fiscal impact statement for these taxes indicate additional administrative costs, including the need for dedicated personnel to administer the new tax. That is more overhead and paperwork for both the Commonwealth and lawful dealers and vendors, on top of an already uncertain revenue stream. Virginia should reject SB763 and focus on targeted enforcement against violent offenders and evidence-based interventions, without taxing responsible citizens and undermining lawful training and safety.

I oppose SB763.

I oppose this bill. SB 763 "Summary As Introduced: Retail sales and use tax; firearm and ammunition tax. Imposes a firearm and ammunition tax equal to 11 percent of the gross receipts from the sale and distribution of any firearm or ammunition by a firearms or ammunition manufacturer, as such terms are defined in the bill..." Virginia does not need more taxes. We especially do not need to be taxed on firearms and ammunition. Every law-abiding citizen has a right to defend themself. If this bill were to become law, it would punish all Virginia residents. It would punish the poor and those of low socioeconomic status, the most. They will not be able to afford firearms and ammunition needed to properly protect themselves. Virginia citizens from lower income brackets often live in neighborhoods that are under policed and less safe than those people in higher income brackets. If this bill becomes law it would put many people who are already at risk, in even greater danger, as they would not be able to afford firearms and ammunition that would allow them to properly defend themselves in case of attack. I urge the entire General Assembly to think of the most vulnerable in our society and vote "No" on this bill. Please do not punish the poor by adding taxes on items that are already difficult for them to purchase. Items that can keep them safe and even save their lives.

HB 1135, HB 1351, HB 188, HB 243, HB 334, HB 341, HB 378, hb 550, HB 557, HB 563, HB 720, HB 784, HB 897, HB 919, HB 946, HB 959, HB 961, HB 978, SB 400, SB 763. I oppose all of these bills.