Law Shield wants to inform our members that two gun owners, two retailers, and three national gun groups have sued the City of Seattle over adoption of a retail sales tax on guns and ammunition. This legal action is a historic first, marking the first time that the Second Amendment Foundation, the National Rifle Association, and the National Shooting Sports Foundation have collaborated on a lawsuit.
They are challenging the City of Seattle’s recently approved sales tax of $25 on each firearm sold and five cents for each round of ammunition (two cents for .22 caliber). The city ordinance was labeled a “gun violence tax,” but the City Council nevertheless approved the measure on Aug. 10 and Mayor Ed Murray signed it last week.
See our previous coverage of the issue here.
The local plaintiffs include two individuals:
According to documents from the suit, plaintiff Philip Watson “is an individual residing in Lakewood, Washington. Philip Watson has purchased ammunition in Seattle at least once a year for the past six years, including from Plaintiff Farwest Sports, Inc., dba Outdoor Emporium. Philip Watson intends to continue purchasing ammunition in Seattle, but will not be able to do so if the firearm and ammunition tax is imposed and the cost is passed on to the consumer.”
And, “Plaintiff Ray Carter is an individual residing in West Seattle. Ray Carter has purchased firearms and ammunition in Seattle at least once a year for the past six years, including from Plaintiffs Farwest Sports, Inc., dba Outdoor Emporium and Precise Shooter, LLC. Ray Carter intends to continue purchasing ammunition in Seattle, but will not be able to do so if the firearm and ammunition tax is imposed and the cost is passed on to the consumer.”
Other local plaintiffs include two of the city’s firearms retailers – Outdoor Emporium and Precise Shooter LLC.
According to the lawsuit: “Farwest Sports, Inc., dba Outdoor Emporium (‘Outdoor Emporium’), is incorporated in Washington, with its principal place of business in Seattle, Washington. Outdoor Emporium is the largest firearm and ammunition retailer in Seattle. Outdoor Emporium retails firearms and ammunition to consumers, approximately 70% of whom are non-Seattle residents. Outdoor Emporium also wholesales ammunition to other retailers in the Seattle area.”
And, “Plaintiff Precise Shooter, LLC (“Precise Shooter”) is organized under the laws of Washington, with its principal place of business in Seattle, Washington. Precise Shooter is a retailer of firearms and ammunition that specializes in serving sportsmen and women seeking products for highly accurate target shooting, as used in shooting sports, competitive events, ranges, and hunting.”
The lawsuit, filed in King County Superior Court, names as defendants Mayor Ed Murray, the city’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services, and that department’s director, Glen Lee.
SAF and NRA have previously cooperated in lawsuits against New Orleans, San Francisco and Seattle, the last suit overturning a previous attempt by then-Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and his successor, Mike McGinn, to prohibit legally-carried firearms in city park facilities. However, this is the first time NSSF has been on board.
“Once again, anti-gun activists in Seattle have chosen to violate the Washington State Constitution and trample upon the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens,” said Chris Cox, executive director of NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action. “They tried to enact similar regulations back in 2009 and lost. It’s a shame to see such a waste of public resources on issues the courts have already ruled to be unconstitutional.”
“We’ve been down this path before with Seattle when we sued them and won, knocking out their attempt to ban guns in city park facilities,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb. “The city does not seem to understand that no matter how they wrap this package, it’s still a gun control law and it violates Washington’s long-standing preemption statute.”
“NSSF has no alternative but to be an active party in this lawsuit against the City of Seattle’s attempt to interfere in the lawful commerce in firearms and ammunition on the grounds that it violates Washington State’s preemption statute that blocks cities from regulating the sale of firearms on their own.” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “The Seattle ordinance is nothing but a ‘poll tax’ on the Second Amendment and an effort to drive Seattle’s firearms retailers out of business.”
If your city were to attempt to levy such a tax on guns and ammunition, would that curb your purchasing or would you simply go outside the city limits to do your shopping?
Everything that is written earlier could be made in real life because now there is such opportunity as viagra buy online remember that it is convenient. But you can be mistaken and write here so buying viagra online can be more expensive.
The post Gun Rights Groups Sue Seattle Over Tax Scheme appeared first on U.S. & Texas LawShield.