Newsom Enacts Excise Tax on Firearm and Ammunition Purchases

California will levy an excise tax on the purchase of firearms and ammunition under a new law Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Tuesday.

The Democratic governor signed the bill (A.B. 28) by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D), enacting a tax that lawmakers had weighed but failed to pass three times in the past five years. Newsom, an outspoken advocate of gun control, has also proposed a 28th Amendment to the US Constitution requiring universal background checks, a minimum firearm purchase age of 21, firearm purchase waiting periods, and a ban on civilian purchase of assault weapons.

• An 11% tax ...