West
New California firearms tax prompts Second Amendment lawsuit to block 'modern Jim Crow law'
A consortium of Second Amendment advocacy groups and two residents filed suit seeking to block California’s new 11% excise tax on firearms, parts and ammunition.
The case, Jaymes v. Maduros, alleged that the Supreme Court has previously ruled that constitutional rights should not be subject to taxation, and sought to block the tax that went into effect July 1.
One of the precedents cited was Murdock v. Pennsylvania, in which the court sided with a Jehovah’s Witness who had been required to purchase a permit to evangelize door-to-door in Westmoreland County.
In that regard, the Firearms Policy Coalition (FPC), National Rifle Association (NRA), California Rifle & Pistol Association and the two civilians filed their complaint against California Department of Tax & Fee Administration Director Nicolas Maduros in his official capacity, citing similar protections.
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Attendees view handguns at the Walther booth during the National Rifle Association (NRA) annual convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Getty Images )
FPC President Brandon Combs called California’s tax a “modern Jim Crow law” that targets people who are disliked by those in power, such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom.
“Thankfully, the Constitution forbids California’s political warfare scheme. FPC and our allies are committed to restoring the right to keep and bear arms in California and throughout the United States,” Combs said in a statement.
The complaint, filed in state court in San Diego, alleges that California seeks to “destroy the exercise of a Constitutional right by singling it out for special taxation.”
The plaintiffs further argue that, if allowed to stand, the levy means that California can tax behavior associated with any other Constitutional rights at 50% or 100% if the government doesn’t favor them.
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The filing also cites the recent New York Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen case, which targeted the Empire State’s requirements for concealed-carry permitting.
Bruen “guarantee[s] the individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation,” the plaintiffs said.
In a statement, the NRA said that although the tax is formally levied on gun dealers, the amount is passed down to the consumer.
Randy Kozuch, executive director of the NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action, said the Virginia-based association has a long history of defending the right to bear arms and challenging laws that abridge it.
“California’s firearms excise tax is a blatant and egregious attack on the rights of Californians and a calculated maneuver to dismantle the Second Amendment,” Kozuch said.
A Newsom spokesman, however, disagreed with the allegations.
“This is a modest investment in gun violence prevention programs that are proven to work,” Daniel Villaseñor told the Los Angeles Times, calling the Golden State “No. 1 for gun safety.”
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Nevada
Nevada Attorney Gen. Aaron Ford responds to what he calls President Trump’s ‘misleading speech on elections’
CARSON CITY, Nev. (KOLO) – On Thursday, July 16, Nevada Attorney Gen. Aaron Ford responded to President Trump’s “misleading speech on elections.”
“You just watched President Trump attempt to revive conspiracy theories about the 2020 election that have repeatedly been debunked and dismissed by the legal system, independent analyses and state elections officials across the country,” Ford said. “My office fought against these lies from day one, and we successfully defended Nevada’s elections from this ridiculous misinformation.”
Ford said that Trump is trying to bring this topic back to life.
“He does not care that Americans are tired,” Ford said. “He does not care that Nevadans are more concerned with the economic impacts of his illegal tariffs and his disastrous foreign policy. He does not care that Nevadans are worried about his unchecked and dangerous immigration enforcement strategies. He does not care that Nevadans are upset about his attempts to abuse taxpayer dollars to create a personal slush fund through the IRS.”
Ford said Trump is trying to lay the groundwork to make a case to allow federal interference in Nevada’s elections.
“Trump has attempted to illegally interfere with the rights of states to conduct their elections, a right, to be clear, that is enshrined in the Constitution,“ Ford said. ”It is the sovereign right of Nevada and all other states to run their elections. Full stop.”
Ford said his office has always acted swiftly to investigate any allegations of voter fraud.
“Our elections have systems in place to ensure that only eligible people vote and attempts to vote fraudulently can be detected and prosecuted,” Ford said. “Since my time as attorney general, the system has worked, and we’ve prosecuted cases of voter fraud.”
Contrary to the lies that Trump continues to peddle, Ford said, the only threat to our elections is his inability to accept his loss.
“He’s still shopping around for someone, anyone, to tell him he won,” Ford said. “His inability to accept the results of past elections and his fragile ego are driving his desire to seize control of future elections. Our country deserves better.”
Ford said Nevadans are not going to stand idly by while Trump attempts to sow doubt, lies, and confusion about the midterm election. He added that the Secretary of State’s office does an impeccable job at administering Nevada’s elections.
“I will continue to use all of my office’s power to stand up against President Trump’s attempts to illegally expand federal power and interfere with states’ rights,” Ford said. “Nevada’s elections are safe and secure.”
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