How Federal Excise Taxes Benefit Shooting and Hunting

[Billm]

There’s been some discussion about some airguns possibly being taxed through the Firearms excise tax. Currently these taxes are redistributed to states to fund wildlife management, hunting programs and public shooting ranges.

Currently these taxes do not apply to airguns or Airgun ammunition. From what I can tell, it is intended at this point to only apply to big bore airguns. I would also point out that this tax was originally established in 1919 to help pay for the cost of World War One and was supposed to be a short term tax. In 1937 the Pittman-Robertson act established that these revenues had to be used for wildlife restoration and management. The funds are usually distributed to various state wildlife agencies. In my state of Florida the funds go to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Theses funds represent 16% of the FWC annual budget. This makes this source of funds very important to the FWC.

Currently there are two tax rates, 10% and 11%. There have been recent efforts in congress to raise the tax to 30% and to remove the limitation that the funds can only be used for conservation and hunting etc,. The latter effort calls for the funds to be used to limit the access to firearms or limit firearm violence.

My initial thoughts are: why not, it’s a good cause.
My secondary thoughts: How many Airgun game animal hunters are there? I’ve never met one in person. We’re not talking pesters or people shooting squirrels in their yards etc.. These taxes are meant to help the airgun hunter that goes out and hunts on state or federal lands. I’ve known hundreds of firearms and bow hunters over the years.

You might think by my posts, that I’m against adding airguns to the tax base. That’s not really the case. I just want more information and worry about any unintended consequences.

Why bring all of this up? Because it was recently stated the Airgun Sporting Association (ASA) was discussing this with the association that represents the various state wildlife agencies.

Incidentally, I took one of my grandsons on to a nearby WMA twice this weekend. with his air rifle to see if we could see a squirrel. We didn’t see any, but it gave me some time to really think about this. Public hunting access could be a really good vehicle to grow airgun use if approached properly.

Here is a website that explains how these funds are usually used:

Overview – Partner with a Payer

Partner with a Payer An initiative of the Office of Conservation Investment with state and industry partners Partner with a Payer strengthens the ties between t

partnerwithapayer.org

 

[hameditor]

There’s been some discussion about some airguns possibly being taxed through the Firearms excise tax. Currently these taxes are redistributed to states to fund wildlife management, hunting programs and public shooting ranges.

Currently these taxes do not apply to airguns or Airgun ammunition. From what I can tell, it is intended at this point to only apply to big bore airguns. I would also point out that this tax was originally established in 1919 to help pay for the cost of World War One and was supposed to be a short term tax. In 1937 the Pittman-Robertson act established that these revenues had to be used for wildlife restoration and management. The funds are usually distributed to various state wildlife agencies. In my state of Florida the funds go to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Theses funds represent 16% of the FWC annual budget. This makes this source of funds very important to the FWC.

Currently there are two tax rates, 10% and 11%. There have been recent efforts in congress to raise the tax to 30% and to remove the limitation that the funds can only be used for conservation and hunting etc,. The latter effort calls for the funds to be used to limit the access to firearms or limit firearm violence.

My initial thoughts are: why not, it’s a good cause.
My secondary thoughts: How many Airgun game animal hunters are there? I’ve never met one in person. We’re not talking pesters or people shooting squirrels in their yards etc.. These taxes are meant to help the airgun hunter that goes out and hunts on state or federal lands. I’ve known hundreds of firearms and bow hunters over the years.

You might think by my posts, that I’m against adding airguns to the tax base. That’s not really the case. I just want more information and worry about anybody unintended consequences.

Why bring all of this up? Because it was recently stated the Airgun Sporting Association (ASA) was discussing this with the association that represents the various state wildlife agencies.

Incidentally, I took one of my grandsons on to a nearby WMA twice this weekend. with his air rifle to see if we could see a squirrel. We didn’t see any, but it gave me some time to really think about this. Public hunting access could be a really good vehicle to grow airgun use if approached properly.

Here is a website that explains how these funds are usually used:

Overview – Partner with a Payer

Partner with a Payer An initiative of the Office of Conservation Investment with state and industry partners Partner with a Payer strengthens the ties between t

partnerwithapayer.org

@Billm Thanks for the outstanding post and information! This would be another thread where input from the @Chief_Pellet_Officer would be welcomed...

 

[Bladefin]

I read the "COW" thread after this one but thought I'd post here.

In an effort to keep as much politics out of this that I can, I'll just state that I moved from Illinois to Georgia over 30yrs ago and I like where I live. We have a plaque in our Kitchen that reads "Northern by Birth, Southern by Choice."

I've got to say I really like the Hunting Air Gun Tax Stamp idea for many reasons. It will keep the funds in the State that the permit and stamp are purchased while also keeping the Federal Govt out of it. For me the thought of a serialized receiver and FFL transfer fees on air guns is not very appealing. At the same time I'm seeing several smaller platform PCPs that are approaching hand gun size shooting .357 or larger on the market, even semiauto. And I don't know what to think about those.
Yes they aren't anywhere near the power of a centerfire. But at the ranges handguns are used in, either for defense or for nefarious reasons, it doesn't make them any less lethal. I feel that those type of products are far more likely to drag Federal legislators into the mix. I think it will only be a matter of time until we see one used on the news.

 

[Billm]

The hunting tax stamp works real well from the hunter point of view. As hunter you only have to buy a stamp for the hunting activities that you participate in. From the state point of view: they can raise the price of a particular stamp for an activity that has incurred an increase in overhead, without affecting the cost of hunting in general. The downside for the state is that it is easier than for them to let the Fed take the heat for taxes and the cost of collecting it. I’d imagine in most cases the state would get more funding via the FET pathway. Keep in mind that the number of hunting licenses sold in a state has a huge bearing on how much the state receives in Pittman-Robertson funds. Georgia is one of the largest recipients of P-R funds, probably because it sells so many hunting licenses.

 

[Bladefin]

I Striper fish on Lake Lanier, not as frequent as I'd like though. When I get my fishing license and also get a hunting combo as well. Even though I can't remember the last time I hunted. I've also got specialty wildlife plates on both of our cars. There are multiple WMAs around the State and most have shooting ranges too. I am not familiar how well funded other State's DNR's are.

Could you imagine having to go to a gun store or FFL to pick up your next air gun? Then also have to go through the ATF check and, depending on the State, the waiting period? I have a carry permit, so here I bypass the check... but not the fees.