Does having a gun make Americans safer? Gun owners say yes.
A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 63% of Americans with a gun in their household feel safer because someone in that household owns a gun. Just two percent (2%) say having a gun in the house makes them feel less safe, while 32% say it has no impact on their personal safety. (To see survey question wording, click here.)
And the day after Thanksgiving, the FBI reported conducting 185,345 background checks; the previous record was just over 175,000 on Black Friday in 2014.
In light of the surging interest in gun ownership, at least one Illinois State House member wants firearm buyers to be protected from outrageous taxes or fees imposed by local governments on the purchase of guns or ammunition.
Southern Illinois Democratic Representative Jerry Costello filed House Bill 4348 last week, which would include banning home rule units of government from also imposing any tax, fee, or other assessment–other than the normal sales tax rate for goods–on firearm attachments.
Costello says Cook County is exploring taxing ammunition, something he wants to prohibit all counties and local governments from doing, INNetwork reports.
