Proposition KK – Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax for Crime Victim Services

Most of the referred measures had bipartisan sponsors, but not Prop KK. Prop KK imposes a 6.5% excise tax on firearms, firearm parts and ammunition sold by firearm dealers and manufacturers and ammunition sellers. The tax revenue would be exempt (debruced) from TABOR limits and would fund primarily crime victim services ($30M), but also mental health services for veterans ($5M) and youth ($3M) and school security grants ($1M).

The federal government has levied an excise tax on retail sales of firearms and ammunition since 1919 with the proceeds funding wildlife conservation and hunting programs. Retail sales of firearms, firearm parts and ammunition are also subject to local and state sales tax.

Sellers with annual sales of less than $20,000 are exempt from this proposed 6.5% tax. Retail sales to law enforcement officers, their agencies, and active-duty military members are also exempt.

Recommendation: Yes

Opponents argue that adults have a constitutional right to own firearms, and this measure infringes on that right. However, the government doesn’t have an obligation to provide firearms tax-free. Plus, the government is often left bearing the cost of gun-related violence. This measure is attempting to recoup some of those costs by imposing a new excise tax, and if fewer guns are out in society, we could have less gun-related violence.

If firearms sales are banned – for instance, sales of certain firearms are banned in Washington, DC – or the retail sales price is exorbitant, people who want to buy firearms will go to other states or seek unregulated ghost guns. Prop KK won’t solve the problem of gun violence in our society, but it will shine a spotlight on it and attempts a small step toward reducing gun violence.

Website for the Yes Side (Colorado Supports Crime Victim Services)
https://yesonpropkk.com/

Website for the No Side (Rocky Mountain Gun Owners)
https://rmgo.org/prop-kk/


Approved Ballot Language
Proposition KK (STATUTORY)

SHALL STATE TAXES BE INCREASED BY $39,000,000 ANNUALLY TO FUND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, INCLUDING FOR MILITARY VETERANS AND AT-RISK YOUTH, SCHOOL SAFETY AND GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION, AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES BY AUTHORIZING A TAX ON GUN DEALERS, GUN MANUFACTURERS, AND AMMUNITION VENDORS AT THE RATE OF 6.5% OF THE NET TAXABLE SALES FROM THE RETAIL SALE OF ANY GUN, GUN PRECURSOR PART, OR AMMUNITION, WITH THE STATE KEEPING AND SPENDING ALL OF THE NEW TAX REVENUE AS A VOTER-APPROVED REVENUE CHANGE?

YES/FOR ___
NO/AGAINST ___

HB24-349 to refer Prop KK to the voters
https://leg.colorado.gov/bills/hb24-1349