Ca. missing out on big bucks

[Bishop]

I never thought of it this way, but I wonder just how much money Ca is missing out on by banning firearms and trying to keep people from buying guns.

Guns are a pretty expensive durable good, and gunnies shoot TONS of ammo. All that's cash that Ca is leaving on the table in favor of their "moral" gun legislation.

I figure the one way to get politicians to question their "moral" laws, is by offering them more taxes!

Seriously though, how much money do you think you'd spend on guns in a year if the AWB and all restrictions were lifted tomorrow?

[SemiAutoSam]

Ohh about 4-6 times more than I do now.

Seriously though, how much money do you think you'd spend on guns in a year if the AWB and all restrictions were lifted tomorrow?

[KenpoProfessor]

I never thought of it this way, but I wonder just how much money Ca is missing out on by banning firearms and trying to keep people from buying guns.

Guns are a pretty expensive durable good, and gunnies shoot TONS of ammo. All that's cash that Ca is leaving on the table in favor of their "moral" gun legislation.

I figure the one way to get politicians to question their "moral" laws, is by offering them more taxes!

Seriously though, how much money do you think you'd spend on guns in a year if the AWB and all restrictions were lifted tomorrow?

I would say they were missing a lot until a year and a half ago. Now that they're getting tons of revenue on DROSs of OLLs they're making a killing. They're still missing a ton from some of the other banned guns we could have but for the time being, I think most people are staying within the AR/AK configs anyway.

You're right though, CA is missing a ton of money with the AWB, but they're missing more revenue with the safe gun list.

Have a great Kenpo day

Clyde

[wilit]

If you want to keep people from obtaining something, you don't ban it. You tax it.

[ibanezfoo]

I dunno about that. I know more than a few people who didn't really care about guns but as soon as they found out assault rifles were about to be banned they went out and bought 3 or 4 each. So they got their sales tax and plenty more evil assault weapons in the hands of civilians.

-Bryan

[CALI-gula]

While we see an increase in our small group of purchases, gun purchases across the board in CA, for most all average citizens, has gone WAY down. Gun buyers like us here on Calguns would have been buying in such quantities anyway, no matter the laws and restrictions (barring a total ban). What is down is the average Joe, or "JoAnna", going out and buying a basic Glock for home protection. The stigma CA has created against the 2nd Amendment and instilled in her citizens is taking shape, as the majority (notice I did not say all) of younger generations that grew up under those beliefs will not be the type to buy a gun - at all, for any purpose.

CA has limited, restricted, or completely banned hunting in many areas. There are MANY less purchases for guns for hunting in CA than ever before. And you would not believe how many people that are not gun owners think Glocks are banned in California, or you need a special "permit" to own any gun.

Any time something is banned in the news, someone not in the mindset of the 2nd Amendment, just hears the word "BANNED" and lumps everything together. If certain semi-auto rifles are banned, they think ALL semi-autos are banned. An SKS or Mini-14 is no different to them than an AK47, and when they see you with it they think "that's an AK47" - and they assume ALL are full auto. How many times have you been asked by non-gun people if your such-and-such semi-auto rifle was fully automatic?

Soon, the easily influenced simply give in to the idea that everything is banned. They either don't have the technical knowledge of firearms or they are easily fooled by the lies. So they just shut down and capitulate. Their eyes roll back in their head in a manner of "I don't want to hear about it, I don't care" at any mention of your trying to explain CA gun laws.

Want a good example of this? Just try taking a few minutes to explain to someone with no firearms experience, or maybe even to someone that DOES have a moderate interest in firearms, why rifles chambered in .50DTC are not banned, but the .50BMG is banned. Or just lay the OLL issue on them, and in 30 seconds they go comatose. And these are some of the more complex issues. Just try explaining SB15 "drop test safety" provisions or even how you go about buying a gun in CA.

They have bought the propaganda so deeply, they have so easily given into the presented difficulty of purchasing a firearm, it is even easier for them to just assume everything is illegal and stay shy of it. They would rather spend a day at the DMV than learn how to buy a gun in CA. Thus, our state legislators have gotten what they wanted, no different than when much of the south made it difficult for blacks to vote, by making them take tests or show up at certain times, pay extra fees, or keep the voting polls in all white neighborhoods, that they often simply found it easier to not vote.

Here in CA, people are finding it easier to not buy a gun.

Keep in mind, it's not just sales and sales tax CA is missing out on. Besides the purchasing tax revenue, California has chased away firearm manufacturers, firearm wholesalers, Gun Show promoters (and guns shows), shooting ranges, hunters, shooting competition revenue, and has influenced the closings of hundreds if not thousands of guns stores over the last 15 years. That's a huge loss in income taxes and business tax.

Purchases are only a SMALL part of what CA has lost in revenue. CA has chased away many facets of money generating business associated with the 2nd Amendment in this state.

.

[Librarian]

Nice post, Cali-gula.

And no one should think this is an unintended consequence.

[1911jerry]

Since leaving California for Texas, I have spent about 10 grand on new guns that I could'nt own in CALI.

JS

[Cato]

If there were no AW ban, I'd probably get a Colt AR-15 with some nice 30 rounders. That's it. Now if fully auto were legal.....



MP5
G36



Maybe someday....

[KenpoProfessor]

Wow Cali, that is well spoken and very true. I can't believe how long it takes to explain the CA laws to someone, as you said that is what you get. I can't say how many times I've been asked if my semi-auto rifles are full auto either, and I always laugh at them and tell them how misinformed they are. I do try to educate them but it's generally in vain.

Have a great Kenpo day

Clyde

[Scarecrow Repair]

I doubt there'd be any noticeable overall change in tax revenue.

People only have so much discretionary income, and what they might spend on guns were it easier, they now spend on cars, or boats, or movies, or skis, or ....

Maybe they would spend less on out of state vacations, but I imagine that's a pretty small percentage. What would guns compete with, hobby-wise? Guns are a weekend or evening thing except for hunting trips, and the guns typically used for hunting don't include banned or hard-to-get guns.

Home defense guns, what would that money come from? If someone could more easily buy a home defense gun, what budget item would that come from? Maybe an out of state vacation would be postponed, but I'd guess more likely fancy rims for the car, a jetski or quad, something pure hobbyish and easily diverted to a one-time gun purchase.

If they planned weekly shooting sessions and the ammo bills, what would that money come from? Since that's time off, I would guess some other weekly adventure, and that's in-state because of the time constraints.

[-hanko]

Since leaving California for Texas, I have spent about 10 grand on new guns that I could'nt own in CALI.

JS

Rewind the tape to 1986, I did exactly the same thing. Moved back to the prk in 2000 and brought my stash with me Supplied some very good friends and a relative or 2 with some otherwise unobtainable weapons.

Difference in tax revenue if gun laws were realistic in the prk v. publicity when some SAC idiot bans yet another gun makes no difference to legislators, especially those close to the ocean. That situation & attitude will continue unabated.

Politicians KNOW that more gun laws do not decrease crime. Otoh, they save time by proposing new gun laws sincs it's easier to do that than to put the blame where it belongs and actually make criminals responsible for their own actions. Demographics in high crime areas in the prk are no different than those in Washington DC, Manhatten, Chicago, or Miami.

With all that's going on, interesting to see posts that attempt to rationalize gang membership on this very forum. That in itself amazes me. We need a castle doctrine with full coverage, no requirement to retreat in the face of imminent danger to person, and gun ownership & purchase laws more in tune with the 2nd Amendment.

-hanko

[leelaw]

their "moral" gun legislation.

Gun control legislation is moral?

I just thought it was about citizen control...

[Travis]

I doubt there'd be any noticeable overall change in tax revenue.

People only have so much discretionary income, and what they might spend on guns were it easier, they now spend on cars, or boats, or movies, or skis, or ....

Maybe they would spend less on out of state vacations, but I imagine that's a pretty small percentage. What would guns compete with, hobby-wise? Guns are a weekend or evening thing except for hunting trips, and the guns typically used for hunting don't include banned or hard-to-get guns.

Home defense guns, what would that money come from? If someone could more easily buy a home defense gun, what budget item would that come from? Maybe an out of state vacation would be postponed, but I'd guess more likely fancy rims for the car, a jetski or quad, something pure hobbyish and easily diverted to a one-time gun purchase.

If they planned weekly shooting sessions and the ammo bills, what would that money come from? Since that's time off, I would guess some other weekly adventure, and that's in-state because of the time constraints.

Very well said. I doubt California is truly losing any money at all. If taxation was really a concern, the state would just legalize prostitution

[ibanezfoo]

Any time something is banned in the news, someone not in the mindset of the 2nd Amendment, just hears the word "BANNED" and lumps everything together. If certain semi-auto rifles are banned, they think ALL semi-autos are banned. An SKS or Mini-14 is no different to them than an AK47, and when they see you with it they think "that's an AK47" - and they assume ALL are full auto. How many times have you been asked by non-gun people if your such-and-such semi-auto rifle was fully automatic?

Thats true. Someone in another forum just got a visit from the ATF after posting a pic of his firearm collection and having some dolt report him for having "full auto" weapons.

-Bryan