Bill seeking voter approval to raise taxes on guns heard in committee
DENVER (KDVR) — Should Colorado add a tax on retail firearm and ammunition sales? It could be up to voters to decide.
A bill that would put the issue on the ballot was being discussed in the House Finance committee on Monday night. The measure’s prime sponsor, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, said a big reason for bringing this bill is to raise money for state programs that need it.
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Different from other Colorado gun bills presented this session, this bill would put a question on the ballot asking voters if gun taxes should increase by 9% to fund some state programs. Originally, the bill called for an 11% excise tax, but Duran indicated an amendment to lower the proposal to 9% would be offered before the committee hearing ends.
“After a lot of conversations, a lot of thinking, what we came up with was an excise tax on guns, ammunition, gun parts, gun sales,” Duran said. “I think voters are happy to pay a little extra when it comes to their guns and ammunition, whatever they are buying, knowing that funding is going directly to three things: crime victims, school safety and mental health.”
What would the gun and ammo tax fund?
Most of the money collected from the tax would go to the Colorado crime victims services fund. The victim and witness assistance and law enforcement fund, along with the state’s wildlife cash fund, would also see some of the money. Duran said the services need the cash.
“Unfortunately, the need is not going down when it comes to the needs of domestic violence, sexual assault, crime victims across the board. When it comes to mental health, school safety, it’s not decreasing. If anything, it’s increasing, so I wanted to create a funding stream so we would have those dollars every year,” said Duran, a violence survivor herself.
Some opponents, from gun groups like Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, were testifying before the committee. They said if the question makes it onto the November ballot, they will wait to see what voters do before they make any decisions about potential action against the measure.
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The hearing in Monday’s committee is the bill’s first big test. If it passes, it will head to the House Appropriations committee.
Duran is also sponsoring two other bills looking to put questions on the ballot: one asking Colorado voters if first-degree murder suspects have a right to bail and another asking if civil claims can be brought against abusers, regardless of when the incident occurred.
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