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Sponsor pitches excise tax on firearms/ammunition to fund trauma care and violence‑prevention
Summary
Delegate sponsor and public‑health advocates said HB197 would create a sustainable funding stream (11% excise on dealer gross receipts for specified firearms/accessories) to support hospital trauma care, community violence intervention, victim services and a state firearm violence prevention center; opponents argued the tax will be passed to consumers, drive dealers out of business, and face constitutional challenge.
Delegate (sponsor) introduced House Bill 197 as a dedicated funding mechanism to support trauma care, community violence intervention (CVI) programs, victim services and a new state centre for firearm violence prevention. The proposed excise tax (11% on gross receipts from sales of firearms, ammunition and certain accessories by federally licensed dealers) would be distributed among hospital trauma programs, the Maryland Violence Intervention & Prevention Program, survivor grants and the new center in the Department of Health.
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