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Cook County mulling violence tax on guns and ammunition
Drawing the ire of the gun lobby, Cook County Board President Preckwinkle is eyeing a violence tax on guns and ammunition sold in the city and suburbs, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.
Such a tax alone wouldn’t close a $115 million budget gap in 2013, but it could at least funnel money into the county’s $3 billion operation — where roughly two-thirds of the budget pays for both the county’s public health clinics and two hospitals along with the criminal justice system that includes the courts and jail.
“If we were to pursue a tax on something like guns and ammo, clearly that wouldn’t be popular with the [gun lobby] out there, and it may not generate $50 million, but … it is consistent with our commitment to pursuing violence reduction in the city and in the county,” Kurt Summers, Preckwinkle’s chief of staff, said on Monday.
The idea is to curb the number of guns in circulation, he said, citing a report issued last summer showing that nearly one-third of the guns recovered on Chicago’s streets were purchased in suburban gun shops. Other statistics are more dire: Murders in Chicago are up 25 percent this year, according to recent police statistics, and the county jail is filling up — with 9,000-plus inmates, nearing the 10,155 capacity.
Along with the tragic human toll, gun violence takes a toll on government coffers.
“It impacts law enforcement, both at the city and the county [levels]. It impacts the courtrooms, the public defender and state’s attorney that are in there, the judges that are in there, the clerk of the court that has to sit there, the sheriff’s deputies that are in that courtroom and it impacts the jail — the folks that are sitting there at $143 a day,” he said, referring to the daily cost of keeping an inmate behind bars.
“Now on top of that, if a person is shot and wounded, they end up more than likely in a Level 1 trauma Center like Stroger Hospital,” he said, of the main taxpayer-funded county hospital.
The cost to treat a gunshot victim, without insurance, is pegged at $52,000, Summers said. And 70 percent of gunshot victims don’t have health insurance, he says.
Just how much Preckwinkle would tax guns and ammunition is unclear. But consumers would be on the hook for it with guns and ammunition dealers responsible for remitting the tax monthly to the county’s Revenue Department.
Back in 2007, then Cook County Commissioner Roberto Maldonado — now a Chicago alderman — pushed for a 10-cents-a-bullet tax, and even proposed charging 50 cents, before the proposal was ultimately shot down.
But the gun lobby has vowed to push back hard on Preckwinkle’s idea.
Bob M.
October 9th, 2012
Guns have been banned in the People’s Socialist Paradise of Chicago since 1982 – hence the reason there has been NO violence there in 30 years.
How can you tax something that isn’t legal OR sold there, on the premise of offsetting a NON-existent activity (violence)?
These liberals really ARE deluded!
Col. Angus
October 9th, 2012
I might be willing to entertain the stupid assed idea, with a few stipulations. Like dedicating the tax revenue to victims and hiring aggressive prosecutors for the ‘youth’ causing all the gd gun crimes. Yeah, I might agree with this crazy, moonbat shit, if the govt. would also agree to get tough on sentencing. Also, Illi-fookin-nois, re-instate the death penalty, and allow concealed carry.
scribble
October 9th, 2012
Paul Ryan said it best – “It’s not a gun problem, but a violence problem.” Teach morals – change the behavior.
Col. Angus
October 9th, 2012
I had to double check who posted. Preckwinkle? Fur wouldn’t have let that one slide.
Toothpick McCharlie
October 9th, 2012
pssst..hey Cook County residents. I gotta good connection on som gats to get around that thug government dats keepin’ youse guys from gettin’ your hands on some heaters.
Just follow dis here watchmacallit link….
ChicagoDiv@atf.gov
reddecaesari
October 9th, 2012
is preckwinkle a dude or a gal? i seriously could not tell from that photo.
Left Coast Dan
October 9th, 2012
If there are any gun stores in the county they’ll just relocate to the border. City of Los Angeles passed laws restricting gun shops, so they all moved to other cities within L.A. County.
dba_vagabond_trader
October 9th, 2012
Oh that is rich, will da hoodies on da souf side be handin ober dat tax?
Unruly Refugee
October 9th, 2012
Tax the criminals you ignorant bastards.
old_oaks
October 9th, 2012
What I want to know is HOW do these supposed “suburban bought” guns keep showing up in Chitcago?
You cannot buy ammo much less a gun in this state without a FOID, and that’s even going to some farm auction!
So WHY don’t the cops go out and round up all the folks who make the straw purchases? A felon cannot have an FOID and handguns are not sold to anyone under 21. So cut off the supply!
old_oaks
October 9th, 2012
In other words… Use the EXISTING laws to fix the problem!
Leave the rest of us out of it!
Unruly Refugee
October 9th, 2012
The guy in the picture looks a lot like the nun in the Blues Brothers movie.
FreeMan & Sarah Voting Early & Often
October 9th, 2012
I know a tax that will work. When a criminal uses a gun we take everything they own and kill them.
It is a progressive tax, the more they shoot the more they die. It kills two birds with one stoning.
BILL
October 9th, 2012
yea, all the tax money in the world won’t make a difference in the street violence in chicago as long as a significant amount of the population and politicians have no morals.
it won’t work even if the gangs bought their weapons and ammo instead of stealing them.
how do they plan on taxing thefts ?
Frito
October 9th, 2012
Hows about a corruption tax on politicians? Hows about a lying tax? Nah, that wouldn’t work… Cause if one should get what one pays for, then someone who pays a violence tax shoud be able to go out and commit violence right?
That would mean the politicians could go out and… oh, too late! Never mind…
Carlsonal
October 9th, 2012
Wow! So outside the box! Cook county is fortunate to have such brilliant people in charge. They should tax rape too. But only rape-rape.
Unslung Hero
October 9th, 2012
Each person rises to their own level of incompetence. Who voted for this TOAD anyhow!!
MADJACK
October 9th, 2012
So folks what we’re gonna do is tax you law abiding citizens for the acts of criminals.
Okay here’s a sorta analogy. Let’s see they outlawed drugs everywhere didn’t they?? So I guess that means no one can get drugs any longer, huh? So exactly what is this tax gonna do?? Well it’s gonna put the screws to the few people of the Chicago area that have any brains.
Why oh why would anyone live in Chicago or San Fran or New York or any other batshit crazy libtard area?? The left is beyond delusional.
Ma Deuce
October 9th, 2012
Who IS that asshole in the photo? Want to stop violent crimes in Shitcago? Start by addressing the underlying problem of broken families – children not getting any moral guidelines at home ( or at school).
Leave the gun-owners out of this mess.
Alex Trebec
October 9th, 2012
oooo, surry, no, that would be Cookt Co. – C O O K T
msq
October 9th, 2012
uumm, we could impose a tax on the people that commit violence, …. but I wouldn’t think that that would fit in with your plans …
two fingers up you!
TCNC
October 9th, 2012
Preckwinkle? Really? No one making that up? C’ mon man.
Boobie the Rocket Dog
October 9th, 2012
More income for Wisconsin and Indiana, plain and simple.
Prickwinkle? Surely not.
An’ dat’s a nigra bitch.
Diann
October 9th, 2012
Oh yes. All those criminals and gang bangers who get guns illegally will think twice about obtaining illegal weapons now that some “I live in Fantasyland” androgeonous douchenozzle has come up with a TAX. God help Chicago.
Annie
October 9th, 2012
The sad thing is the rest of Illinois are trap shooting, bird hunting cossacks.
Hybrid Lemon
October 9th, 2012
I’ll pay the tax, just to be a player when it comes time for a game of Cowboys & Moslems.
tumbleweed
October 9th, 2012
What else would a liberal transvestite named Prickwrinkle try to do?
Lowell
October 9th, 2012
How ’bout a corruption tax on their local politicians? Talk about a progressive tax!
roctoberfeast
October 9th, 2012
“cost to treat a gunshot victim, without insurance, is pegged at $52,000″
i’m sorry, WHAT??!?!?!
just about how many 1000′s of votes could a republican get trying to set up a debtors prison ot at least a way to make restitution?
Tony R
October 9th, 2012
It would be a nice change of pace if they would get as tough on the criminals as they are on the law-abiding citizens.
Tortillapete
October 9th, 2012
Tax blacks…
Carlos The Jackal
October 9th, 2012
Toni Preckwinkle, Cook County Board President and soon-to-be right-hand “man” to “Big Sis” Janet Incompetano…
Johnny Freedom
October 9th, 2012
In place of this, there should be a ghetto thug tax on all droopy pants, blingy hats, gold teeth, rap music CDs, and Colt 45 (the malt liquor, not the freedom machine)…. and tagging with spray paint should be a death penalty crime.
mizdoolally
October 9th, 2012
OH, great! Are they going to tax the crooks who have and use guns to hold up people and kill each other?
Jorel Lives!
October 9th, 2012
Illinois is soooo broke. At present, their deficit runs at about 18 billion dollars. Blacks in some of the worst parts of the Chicago have been killing each other since the Sixties. When the Hispanics emerged with their exploding population back in the Seventies, the gang warfare increased overall. It’ll never end. They would have to bring in the National Guard and literally kill thousands of “youths and hombres.” All you hear about is Los Angeles’ multiracial violence. Ha! Go visit their inner city and South Side and go home in a casket. I pity the ones who do have to grow up in these violent hellhole neighborhoods. Nonetheless, this is just another ploy to get money to feed the Cook County Machine. It won’t change a damn thing.
Stache
October 10th, 2012
Chicago is on track to replace Washington DC as the murder capitol of the nation.
(picked that statement out of a recent FirstFreedom magazine).
-Probably just coinkydink that both cities voted to violate the Second Amendment.