Senator Steve Daines helped introduce the “Repealing Illegal Freedom and Liberty Excises (RIFLE) Act,” legislation that would remove a burdensome tax imposed on firearms regulated under the National Firearms Act.
“It is unconstitutional for this Administration to punish law-abiding Montanans with burdensome regulations that make it impossible for them to exercise their Second Amendment rights. I strongly oppose this unnecessary tax from President Biden and stand with Montanans’ right to lawfully possess firearms,” said Daines.
Text of the legislation may be found here.
Background:
The 1934 National Firearms Act (NFA) regulates short-barreled shotguns and rifles, fully automatic firearms, suppressors, and a catchall category of explosives. In addition to background checks and registration, NFA regulated items have a $200 tax.
The ATF has acknowledged the tax was intended “to curtail, if not prohibit, transactions” of firearms. The $200 tax, unchanged since 1934, is equivalent to $4,648 in today’s dollars.
Since 2018, ownership of NFA regulated items have grown by more than 250% as more sportsmen, shooters and firearm enthusiasts exercise their Second Amendment right.
The RIFLE Act does not modify the current checks and registration; it solely removes the federally mandated financial burden on law-abiding gun owners.
The legislation is endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the National Shooting Sports Foundation.