lvc@cbnews.att.com (03/25/91)
From: lvc@cbnews.att.com The current 11% excise tax on all sporting arms and ammunition is designated by the Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 for use in conservation. Since 1937 over $2 billion has been raised for conservation by this tax. HR-750 introduced by Russo would provide that the excise tax on handguns would be transferred to a trust fund "to be used for purposes of providing compensation to victims of crime, and for other purposes." An open ended specification like that can mean literally _anything_; including spending that money on lawsuits against firearms manufacturers, dealers, etc. So, if you are opposed to this change in the tax law write your congressman; the bill is included below. I can email copies of most of the federal bills affecting firearms if you need them; or if the moderator doesn't mind I can post them. [Moderator's note: I also have copies of the bills on my real account: rigg@osnome.che.wisc.edu. If anyone wants the text of any or all of the current bills, please contact me or Larry (lvc@cbnews.att.com).] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 102d Congress 1st Session H.R. 750 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 to provide that the excise tax on handguns will be transferred to a trust fund to be used for purposes of providing compensation to victims of crime, and for other purposes. In the House of Representatives January 30, 1991 Mr. Russo introduced the following bill; which was referred jointly to the Committees on Ways and Means and the Judiciary -- A Bill To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide that the excise tax on handguns will be transferred to a trust fund to be used for purposes of providing compensation to victims of crime, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) subchapter A of chapter 98 of the Internal Revenuse Code of 1986 (relating to trust fund code) is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: "SEC. 9511 Establishment of Crime Victims Compensation Trust Fund. "(a) Creation of Trust Fund. -- There is established in the Treasury of the United States a trust fund to be known as the "Crime Victims Compensation Trust Fund", consisting of such amounts as may be appropriated or credited to the Crime Victims Compensation Trust Fund under this section or section 9602(b). "(b) Transfer of Certain Taxes. -- There are hereby appropriated to the Crime Victims Compensation Trust Fund amounts equivalent to the taxes which are imposed by section 4181 on pistols and revolvers and which are received in the Treasury. "(c) Expenditures from Trust Fund. -- Amounts in the Crime Victims Compensation Trust Fund shall be available, as provided by appropriation Acts, for purposes of providing compensation to victims of crime." (b) Section 3 of the Act of September 2, 1937 (16 U.S.C. 669b) is amended by striking out "sections 4161(b) and 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954" and inserting in lieu thereof "section 4161(b) of Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and any tax imposed by section 4181 of such Code on articles other than pistols and revolvers." (c) The table of sections for subchapter A of chapter 98 of such Code is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new item: "Sec. 9511. Establishment of Crime Victims Compensation Trust Fund." (d) The amendments made by this section shall apply to taxes imposed by section 4181 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 after the date of the enactment of this Act. -- Larry Cipriani, att!cbvox!lvc or lvc@cbvox.att.com "Fight fire with fire, I always say" -- Bugs Bunny