Shooters pay some taxes.
Below is some information regarding some of the tax revenue generated by firearm and ammunition sales. The data is merely for one calendar year quarter - in 2011.
The sales data - and consequently the tax revenue generated - for the record sales in 2012 and early 2013 - should be
substantially more robust.
Moreover, none of the numbers below reflect state and local sales tax collections on such firearm and ammunition sales (or components) - and such taxes exist in every jurisdiction IIRC - except 5 (OR, MT, NH, DE, AK). State tax rates vary, but can be as high as 7.5 %. However, when you add local rates on top of the overall state rate, what you pay can equal or exceed 9% in a couple of jurisdictions but let's just use an average rate of 6% or 6.5% for discussion purposes only, on each and every purchase of a firearm and ammunition (and component) sold at retail...and remember, that is on top of the excise tax illustrated below.
(Note: certain BATF regulated items would, of course, incur an additional stamp tax on top of the FAET and state and local sales taxes paid and collected).
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Following are the results of the Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax (FAET) collections report for the 3rd Quarter Calendar Year 2011. These figures cover the period of July 1, 2011 through Sept. 30, 2011.
Pistols and Revolvers:
$32,082,580.88
Firearms (Other) / Long guns:
$40,449,622.34
Ammunition (shells & cartridges):
$44,225,090.60
TOTAL:
$116,757,293.82
Translation to sales:
Using the latest tax liabilities reported as an indication of sales, a projection of $1.09 billion was generated for the 3rd quarter calendar year of 2011.
Pistols and revolvers: $32,082,580.88 / .10 = $320,825,808.80 = $320.83 million for Pistols and Revolvers
Firearms (other) /Long guns: $40,449,622.34 / .11 = $367,723,839.50 = $367.72 million for Firearms (other)/ Long guns
Ammunition (shells & cartridges): $44,225,090.60 / .11 = $402,046,278.20 = $402.05 million for Ammunition (shells & cartridges)
Total estimation of sales for the quarter: $1,090,595,927.00.
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So, for
one quarter in 2011...take the FAET tax paid ($116,757,293.82) and project that billion dollars in firearm and ammunition sales and multiply by an average sales tax rate of let's just say 6%...you do the math.
http://www.nssf.org/research/blasts/FAETCQ3_2011.htm
http://taxfoundation.org/article/sta...ates-2011-2013