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Crime

Top Official Proposes ‘Bullet Tax’ to Curb Chicago Violence Then Taunts Pro-Gun Groups: ‘You’re Welcome to Sue’

Oct. 18, 2012 9:25pm Jason Howerton

Toni Preckwinkle Proposes Bullet Tax to Curb Chicago Violence

(Photo credit: Shutterstock.com)

CHICAGO (TheBlaze/AP) — As Chicago struggles to quell gang violence that has contributed to a jump in homicides, a top elected official wants to tax the sale of every bullet and firearm – an effort that has national gun-rights advocates already considering a legal challenge.

Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle submitted a proposed budget on Thursday that would impose a tax of a nickel for each bullet and $25 for each firearm sold in the nation’s second-largest county, which encompasses Chicago.

Preckwinkle’s office estimates the tax will generate about $1 million a year, money that would be used for various county services including medical care for gunshot victims. Law enforcement officials would not have to pay the tax, but the office said it would apply to 40 federally licensed gun dealers in the county.

Through last week, the city reported 409 homicides this year compared to 324 during the same period in 2011. Although the violence still doesn’t approach the nearly 900 homicides a year Chicago averaged in the 1990s, officials say gang activity was largely to blame for a rash of shootings earlier this year.

Preckwinkle insists the ordinance is far more about addressing gun violence than raising money for a county that faces a budget shortfall of more than $260 million.

“The violence in Cook County is devastating and the wide availability of ammunition only exacerbates the problem,” she told the board Thursday.

Dave Workman, of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Bear Arms, said the tax is sure to infuriate gun-rights advocates when they hear about it.

“It’s not the law-abiding citizens stacking bodies like cordwood in Chicago; it’s the bad guys,” he said.

In this Jan. 26, 2012 file photo, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle speaks at a news conference in Chicago. (Credit: AP)

Preckwinkle sought to fend off that argument during her remarks Thursday. She said nearly a third of the guns recovered by police after being used in Chicago crimes had been purchased legally, initially at least, in suburban Cook County.

Earlier this week during a meeting with a newspaper editor board, Preckwinkle called the county’s legal gun shops “a conduit for crimes in Chicago,” according to a transcript released by her office.

Neither Preckwinkle spokeswoman Kristen Mack nor a National Rifle Association spokesman knew of any other local jurisdiction in the nation that has imposed a tax on bullets, even though some have considered it. Legislation on such a tax was previously introduced by state lawmakers in Springfield, but it was never been voted on, Mack said.

Gun rights advocates from around the country who watched closely as Chicago’s handgun ban made its way through the courts, culminating in a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2010 to overturn it, say this proposal has definitely caught their attention.

“Eyes are on Chicago and Illinois right now,” said Andrew Arulanandam, a NRA spokesman.

Richard Pearson, executive director of the Illinois State Rifle Association, predicted the effort would “drive business out of Cook County” and into other counties and bordering states, such as Indiana and Wisconsin.

One suburban gun shop owner agreed, saying that his customers, many of whom are hunters, will simply go elsewhere.

“Who’s going to come to Tinley Park to buy ammunition,” said Fred Lutger, the owner of Freddie Bear Sport in that suburban Chicago community.

As for the money going toward treating gunshot victims, Lutger said, “Why should we be paying for gang bangers shooting each other?”

Some members of the county board that will be asked to approve the budget have expressed skepticism about whether the tax would raise as much money as Preckwinkle expects because it would simply prompt consumers to go elsewhere for their bullets and firearms.

Commissioner John Fritchey questioned whether county was simply setting itself up for a lawsuit that will cost the county more money than the tax will bring in. He also wondered if it would have any role in reducing crime.

“I don’t think a nickel a bullet will cause a shooter to rethink pulling the trigger,” he said.

Workman predicted a public outcry against Preckwinkle’s motivation for proposing the measure.

“I could envision a coalition of different groups saying, ‘Wait a minute, you are making us financially responsible for the Cook County government’s inability to hold down spending?” he said.

While Arulanandam promised that the NRA “will jump on this issue,” and perhaps sue, Preckwinkle said she wasn’t worried about a lawsuit.

“You’re welcome to sue,” she said. “We’ve looked at this and we believe we can survive any challenge.”

This isn’t the first time that a so-called “bullet tax” has been proposed. TheBlaze’s Buck Sexton reported back in July 2011 about a similar proposal in Baltimore:

WBAL-TV is reporting that Baltimore mayoral candidate Otis Rolley has unveiled a new proposal to add a $1 bullet tax to each round sold within city limits. This would be part of Rolley’s multi-pronged strategy to reduce crime in Baltimore, which also includes better training and standards for the Baltimore Police Department, working with the media to raise awareness of suspects at large, and reducing the number of vacant properties in the city.

Featured image via Shutterstock.com

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

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Comments (145)

pissantno.10
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:03pm
what happened to the mayor hmm he must be dancing some where . Ballerina mayor dont bug me gotta dance the ballerina. you bad boys take it some where else gotta dance the ballarina obama obama dance with me ballarina mayor . bad boys go shoots some where else.

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- Secret Squirrel
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:29pm
  .
  So if the nickel tax per bullet doesn’t curb crime, then raise it to a dollar.
  It’s the “community organizer” way.
  
  Then, add a nickel tax per donut to curb obesity,
  a nickel per french fry to curb heart disease,
  and $500 per swimming pool to curb drowning.
  There is no end to the money raised to buy votes,
  mainly from the black thugs who are shooting each other.
  And the circle is complete.
  
  Report this comment
- RepubliCorp
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 11:20pm
  so order your ammo online…… the Preckwinkle tax will bring in nothing and they will lose the sales tax…
  
  Report this comment
- NOFX
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 12:28am
  “So let’s roll up on Jamal’s crib, squeeze some lead off, and do a drive-by. Ya feel me?”
  “I dunno, Terrel, eva since the five o raised dem taxes to twenty-five cents per round I haven’t been able to afford a full mag to load into my nickle-plated chrome.”
  “Word.”
  
  Everyone knows that taxes ammunition and guns only hurts the innocent people. Slapping a twenty-five cent tax on a round of ammo isn’t going to detour someone who wants to shoot someone else.
  
  Report this comment
- wingnut1955
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 12:52am
  Oh, the gangs of Chicago just got to be quaking in their boots. They abide by all the laws of the city, and a tax on bullets will break them. The mind set of the people who think up this stuff must be about the level of a 5 year old and that may be an insult to 5 year olds. If they are killing people why would a tax on bullets be a deterrent?
  
  Report this comment
- banjarmon
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 1:01am
  To curb the crime and killing in Chicago….Bring back Public HANGINGS, and charge admission!!
  
  Report this comment
- npbreakthrough
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 2:30am
  Chicago births another political genius!!!……seriously folks this is the political climate our PRESIDENT comes from!!….
  
  Report this comment
- bobdiamond
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 5:23am
  This is typical Liberalism, blame everything and everyone except the perpetrators of the crimes. Read political commentary at: http://smallcraftadvisorychronicles.blogspot.com/
  
  Report this comment
- johnjamison
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 8:10am
  So the fascist in Chicago want to place and exercise tax on a Constitutional right. Sounds like they are going to lose billions to law suit for infringing on the rights of citizens.
  
  Report this comment
- steelpanther
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 11:22am
  “The violence in Cook County is devastating and the wide availability of ammunition only exacerbates the problem,” she told the board Thursday.”
  
  Last time I bought ammo I bought two boxes of .45 and two of .44 Mag. I paid between $210 and $225 and it’s been almost a year since I bought them. Boxed ammo is completely unaffordable as it is.
  
  Shooting my M1 off boxed ammo would be a rich only proposition.
  
  Report this comment
- dmerwin
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 11:25am
  What a moronic solution. These people (the gangstas) already obtain their firearms and ammo through illegal sources. This will force law abiding gun owners to cross state borders and to make their purchase worth the trip they will REALLY load up. Again, MORONS!
  
  Report this comment
- Yeah_Buddy
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 12:18pm
  Ms. Prickcrinkle, if you really are female, you should address the ‘roots’ problem, use the money to incentivise dads to raise their sons in a family environment and teach them to respect others. maybe you could get bill cosby as a spokesperson, since he is the only black speaking up.
  
  Report this comment
- vanman4446
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 2:34pm
  If you can’t fix it TAX IT
  
  Report this comment
- black9897
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 7:46pm
  This is laughable. Yes, this will surly stop the criminals from shooting and harming others. Why didn’t we think of this before?
  
  Report this comment
- armyofnibiru
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 9:29pm
  these neo braindeads constantly carping to me that capitol punishment does’nt curb murder ,now want to tell me that fn 25 cent tax will.aaarrrrgggggg,the recidivism rate of the exacuted is 0%. and what is the number % of these that where mudered by say knife,icepick,bat,2×4,iron bar from the trash or piece of glass?not all were killed by gun.
  
  Report this comment
right-wing-waco
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:03pm
Go to hell Preckwinkle!

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- rickc34
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:14pm
  Later this month the United Nations is going to put a bill into world law the “small arms treaty” which puts our gun laws into the hands of other countries and Obama approves along with Clinton
  
  Report this comment
- Wool-Free Vision
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:25pm
  Hahaha, now THIS is an unfortunate surname, but it appears that Toni is living up to Prickwrinkle quite well.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 12:46am
  This lady is an idiot
  
  Report this comment
Robert1143
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:01pm
It should be intresting since they have closed just about all of the gun shops in Chicago and Cook County and it only takes a 20 minute drive to leave Cook County. They refuse to arrest Gang Bangers or Illegles, I say arm them all and then clean up the mess, of course the Cook County Mourge is under investigation for mismanagement too. The Sheriff is more interested in seeing that everyone is buried right, Hell, just bulldoze the whole place and start all over.

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- pissantno.10
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:11pm
  i grew up in chi town so sad nothing but a waste land now
  
  Report this comment
Lesbian Packing Hollow Points
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:59pm
Indiana gun stores stand ready to fulfill all of Chicago’s ammunition needs.

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- booger71
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:16pm
  All they got to do is drive 10 miles and buy them in the next county
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:29pm
  This will probably increase sales in RCBS Rock Chuckers, and Lee Loaders. Learn to roll your own.
  
  Report this comment
- thegreatcarnac
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 10:19am
  I was going to say the same thing. Does this Preckwinkle slut think that people cannot leave Chicago and buy bullets and guns elsewhere?? What an idiot…but typical.
  
  Report this comment
- G-WHIZ
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 11:41am
  The gangs and “badguys” don’t buy their weppons and ammo(hit: THEY STEAL THEM!) This is just annother way to fund the bolated [D]commie programs crashing Chi-twn’s economy.
  
  Report this comment
Tigress1
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:59pm
Also, this is another delaying tactic by the politicians. They have no idea what to do about the crime in Chicago. However, if they pass this tax then they can sit on their butts for a while and say “Well, we DID do something!” Then when statistics come in that show the tax did nothing towards eliminating crime, they can say “Well, the tax wasn’t high enough.” and they will raise it again, and again, meanwhile doing NOTHING to REALLY solve the crime problem. (but they will continue to collect the money and waste it all the while) All the while people are dying in the streets.

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- pissantno.10
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:13pm
  there is no place to buy bullets in cook count any more it is a joke tax
  
  Report this comment
Oneirishman
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:53pm
OH bullet tax. I thought they said bulls**t tax, carry on.

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- Dougral Supports Israel
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:11pm
  Liberals wouldn’t have enough money to pay their fair share of that tax.
  
  Report this comment
- Oneirishman
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:17pm
  It’s only on the B*tch….Rich, sorry.
  
  Report this comment
1TrueOne55
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:52pm
It makes me laugh at the very institution I am considering getting into in the late stage of my life. If they think that the illegal gun trade will buy ammo in the gun stores he has his head in a very smelly body part. If you take a look at what NY did with the Millionaire’s TAX and what it was purprosed to bring in and what it actually did you will see that if they get what they want it will affect sales tax revenue when gun owners and the stores they frequent move to another state.

You can store ammo for periods of time and you can offset it with purchase on the internet since it does not require an FFL to sell it, ammo does not kill with out a gun as easily.

It may be a big failure if they do it…

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- Anonymous T. Irrelevant
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:59pm
  Liberalism is indeed a mental disorder, my friend. You hit it on the spot. These criminals didn’t buy the guns, why do they think they will buy the bullets? In these neighborhoods, it only takes a certain skin color, a little more smarts than the residents, and no soul to become one of these kinds of politicians.
  
  Report this comment
Tigress1
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:51pm
This is only to raise money for the gov. It’s just one more way they can tax. It will have zippo impact on crime. Just more Chicago politician B.S.
If they want to stop crime, then they need to do something about the revolving door in the jails.

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- The_Pointy_End
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:24pm
  IMHO this is the start of regulating away the second amendment. They won’t go after guns…too much push back. So they will start with regulating away ammo.
  
  Report this comment
normbal
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:50pm
Claire Wolfe was right. Then. Wrong. Now.

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pissantno.10
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:49pm
well she needs this bucks to pay for her home security system .now our gang bangers steal all there ammo and guns so i cant get no moneys from them people. so somebody done gonno have to pay foo all these dead people and it an’t going to be outa my moneys. so every body else needs to been paying for our life style chilling and killing

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BlackCrow
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:47pm
Think so smart young man will open an ammunition store just across the county line?

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jfreak13713
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:46pm
They won’t ban guns just make them too expensive to buy! Same Result!

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- TSUNAMI_22
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:50pm
  Yeah, same result………people will still find a way to acquire them legally, or by stealing them from people who buy them legally.
  
  Report this comment
dickdastardly
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:46pm
Since when do criminals buy their guns & ammo at retail shops? If she wants to curb violence, how about turning the Corps Of Homeland Youth (Hitler Youth Wannabes) loose on them?

Homeland Security Graduates First Corps Of Homeland Youth…YOU SHOULD BE ALARMED!!!

http://www.whiteoutpress.com/articles/q42012/homeland-security-graduates-first-corps-of-homeland-youth/

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- Exrepublisheep
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:50pm
  That. Is. Scary.
  
  Report this comment
- momrules
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:12pm
  Scary is almost too tame a word. Thanks Dastardly for the link………..
  
  Everybody PLEASE read this.
  
  Report this comment
- dmforman
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:41pm
  When we bring this up we are radicals. People need to be informed about what is really happening. My grandfather grew up during the rise of Hitler and spoke about it often to our family, not wanting it to happen to anyone else. All of our children are vulnerable.
  
  Watch Losing Our Sons https://losingoursons.com/ for free for the next few days to learn how our children can easily be converted to Islam.
  
  Report this comment
- mercenary4freedom
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 12:55am
  read about it today DICK, more targets of opportunity if they want to get frisky. obama’s civilain national police force.
  
  Report this comment
- Yakov-Yurovsky
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 8:30am
  DICKDASTARDLY,
  
  I guess saying, “Komsomol wannabes” wouldn’t evoke the same psychological effect! lol
  
  Do you know why it don’t?
  
  I must admit, I’ve been conditioned too! When it comes to the Komsomol and the rest of the party, it’s almost as if we’ve been lobotomized! Even knowing the facts, without the narrator and the music it’s not the same. lol
  
  Report this comment
The Giver
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:45pm
The law abiding people again being asked to pay for the crime. Criminals won’t pay any bullet or gun taxes when they buy them on the streets or steal them. Our Constitution is under attack… By people who wish it did not exist. Think I’ll join the NRA this week.

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Al J Zira
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:44pm
Another example of progressive reaction without any thought. Pricktinkle thinks a nickel tax will have an effect on gun violence? And when crime doesn’t go down she’s going to what; drop the tax? That’ll happen. It’s funny, they state 1/3 of the guns found at crime scenes were bought legally so they target that instead of the 2/3 of illegal guns. Typical liberal idiot.

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dickdastardly
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:42pm
I understand Chicago politics…but this is crazy…by the way, that was a female in that picture?

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coyote1hell
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:39pm
Failure by a Democrap alliance = Tax ‘dis an ‘dat..up ’till I gets my money bac…uhhh dueds…

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nighttrainno9
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:37pm
Assinine, but normal for Chicago. I guess my question would be, ” where
the hell do they find these people like Prickwinkle”? I mean, talk about
lack of common sense. I mean, if you want to get the gangs under control,
burn em. Everyone knows that the blacks and mexicans are the problem,
so burn em. Make them hide, make them afraid to show their faces, that
will go a lot farther than taxing bullets.

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- The Giver
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:50pm
  You want to burn people… Well, with all that hate it looks like you might be burning when you close your eyes for the last time. He who is WITHOUT sin cast the first stone. I guess jails are not good enough for your sick mind.
  
  Report this comment
- nighttrainno9
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:54pm
  To the giver
  Not hate dummy, self-defense, if you don’t elimate these gangs, they
  will soon be working their way out into the suburbs and rural areas.
  Then all of us will be fighting for our lives. These gangs should have been
  eliminated years ago.
  
  Report this comment
- thegreatcarnac
  Posted on October 19, 2012 at 10:22am
  Nighttrain09…..You are right. These gangs are building into small armies …especially in the southwest involving M13 and the rest. These gangs…all of them everywhere need to be engaged and destroyed.
  
  Report this comment
Red Bone
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:37pm
Does this ” Top Official ” think the criminals are buying their ammo? another libatard trying to think above their pay grade.

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Psychosis
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:37pm
these morons never learn

its ONE county

looks like people will do the same thing they do when buying cigarettes …………….shop elsewhere

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grayling646
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:36pm
More gubment stupidity.

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Liberalismsamentaldisorder
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:35pm
If there’s no second amendment, they’ll soon be no first.

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Gary_K
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:34pm
” Preckwinkle’s office estimates the tax will generate about $1 million a year ”

That is what the tax is about, it will do nothing to curb crime.

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- pissantno.10
  Posted on October 18, 2012 at 10:22pm
  but since its my tax i gets the most moneys from it dat way i can move to some white place where dem gang bangers cant mess wit me and den i can brings in my folks and gets yalls land cheap dumb whity
  
  Report this comment
J_Ind_Boston
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:34pm
Idiots

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Sickandtiredofextremists
Posted on October 18, 2012 at 9:31pm
Second Amendment rights under fire again. Why in the heck should honest, law-abiding citizens be penalized for the actions of crooks and gang-bangers??????????????

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