Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Covering state lawmakers, bills, and policy emerging from Jefferson City.

Proposal would set sales tax holiday for gun purchases in Missouri

(via Flickr/kcds)

Legislation being proposed in Missouri would establish a sales tax holiday for new gun purchases.

The pre-filed bill is sponsored by Rep. JeredTaylor, R-Nixa.  He has not yet responded to requests by St. Louis Public Radio for an interview, but he issued a brief written statement on Monday.

"I think it is imperative that every citizen, if they choose and are eligible, is prepared to defend themselves and their families if the need arise," Taylor said.  "Purchasing a firearm is expensive, and I am trying to help ensure that it is more affordable to everyone who wants to purchase a firearm."

Rep. Stacey Newman, D-Richmond Heights, strongly opposes the measure.

Credit (via Flickr/kcds)

"There has been no outcry for this," Newman said. "It actually puts a damper on local communities who depend on sales tax revenues, with no thought to how that would affect the communities that would be getting obviously less sales taxes."

Newman also says it would reduce much-needed revenue for public schools and health care.  

If it becomes law, the gun sales tax holiday would take place each year, starting in 2017, on the Saturday following the Fourth of July.  It would apply to both the state sales tax and to those from local communities.

Any city or town that does not want to participate would haveto pass a local opt-out ordinance.

The bill is one of several proposals being floated by Republican lawmakers in 2016, including one that would lift the ban on concealed firearms on college campuses. 

Follow Marshall Griffin on Twitter:  @MarshallGReport

Copyright 2015 St. Louis Public Radio

St. Louis Public Radio State House Reporter Marshall Griffin is a native of Mississippi and proud alumnus of Ole Miss (welcome to the SEC, Mizzou!). He has been in radio for over 20 years, starting out as a deejay. His big break in news came when the first President Bush ordered the invasion of Panama in 1989. Marshall was working the graveyard shift at a rock station, and began ripping news bulletins off an old AP teletype and reading updates between songs. From there on, his radio career turned toward news reporting and anchoring. In 1999, he became the capital bureau chief for Florida's Radio Networks, and in 2003 he became News Director at WFSU-FM/Florida Public Radio. During his time in Tallahassee he covered seven legislative sessions, Governor Jeb Bush's administration, four hurricanes, the Terri Schiavo saga, and the 2000 presidential recount. Before coming to Missouri, he enjoyed a brief stint in the Blue Ridge Mountains, reporting and anchoring for WWNC-AM in Asheville, North Carolina. Marshall lives in Jefferson City with his wife, Julie, their dogs, Max and Liberty Belle, and their cat, Honey.