Gun Pulse: DeSantis proposes new Second Amendment Summer tax breaks

The States

DeSantis was asked whether he anticipates pushback from state lawmakers, who have broadly been less supportive of gun rights policies in recent years.

Even as proponents of the Second Amendment support removing taxes on firearms, pointing to the right to keep and bear arms in the Constitution, several other states have imposed additional taxes on firearms. File Image.

Editor’s Note: Gun Pulse, formerly an email newsletter from The Sentinel meant to cover the battle over the Second Amendment in our nation, is now exclusively available on our website.

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a new “Second Amendment Summer” sales tax break for this year, a program the official included in his most recent budget proposal.

“Second Amendment Summer” would be a temporary sales tax holiday between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July, exempting firearms, ammunition, and related accessories from state sales taxes. DeSantis projects that the initiative will save Florida residents some $8 million.

“We are unveiling the ‘Second Amendment Summer’ tax holiday, so from Memorial Day to the Fourth of July, you can get your ammunition, your firearms, and your accoutrements tax free in the state of Florida,” DeSantis revealed last week in a press conference about the budget.

DeSantis was asked whether he anticipates pushback from state lawmakers, who have broadly been less supportive of gun rights policies in recent years relative to their chief executive.

“I think this is going to be wildly popular,” DeSantis said in response to the question. “Why would they want to fight back on that? This is something their voters would expect them to support.”

California was the first state to pass an 11% added excise tax on firearms, a program that was later advanced or approved by Maryland, Colorado, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Washington, and New Mexico. Beyond state taxes, some municipalities such as Seattle, Washington, and Cook County, Illinois, have their own additional taxes on firearm purchases.

DeSantis proposed other tax holidays for this year, including a two-month pause on marine fuel taxes that will save boaters $27 million, a seven-day pause on taxes for tools used by skilled workers that will save them $18 million, and two fourteen-day pauses on items needed during natural disasters, saving residents $72 million at the start and height of hurricane season.