Bullet Tax?: Baltimore Mayoral Candidate Offers Unusual Crime Prevention Plan

If you plan to go shooting in Baltimore, it might be a little more expensive come this September.

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.

Rolley, a Democrat who previously served as Baltimore's planning director, believes a bullet tax will specifically  decrease random shootings around the city during holidays -- and just generally up the price tag on gun related crimes.

"While the courts have consistently ruled against significant gun control legislation," his plan states, "there is still a way to decrease crime: substantially increase the cost of its commission."

It adds, "Increasing the cost of guns won't work, because many criminals don't purchase new guns, and they can be borrowed or even rented in some areas."

Currently, 50 rounds of 9mm ammunition online looks to cost around $15.

Read the entire plan, here.