Tariffs and Taxes on Firearms

In this episode we discuss briefly Trump's tarrifs and a Harvard study on the impact of taxing firearms to reduce gun violence.

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Transcript

0:15

Well, welcome to the Live to Shoot podcast. I've been a licensed firearm dealer for the last. 18 years. In this podcast, we talk about all things related to the Second Amendment, other stories in the news, a sports story, or anything else I might find interesting. So welcome, welcome, welcome. This is the show where we, we cut through the noise. We stand up for our God-given rights, and we celebrate the freedom that makes America the greatest nation on earth. If you're a law abiding, gun owner, a hunter, a sports shooter, or just someone who believes in liberty, you're in the right place. The big stories this week have been tariffs, and then I heard about this story on the Bearing Arms podcast about taxing firearms, which I also thought was interesting. So let's make sure you check out cam Edwards on the Bearing Arms podcast because he's always got a lot of good information. So first, I don't wanna go too deep into this tariffs and all that's going on, but. One thing Trump is, is he is not one to stay with the status quo, and he's pursuing some very out of the box approaches to solving the country's problems. This is what has everyone so aplastic, especially the stock market, because they just don't like change, but the world has taken advantage of the US and it's time to change that. For too long, they've sold us their stuff, but made it prohibitive for us companies to sell our stuff. You won't. Find any US cars in Europe because they just can't sell them there. And on top of that, anytime there's a disaster, they expect us to come to help on a humanitarian basis, which I have no issue with that. But they also want us to protect them from their enemies. This has gotta change. So today we're gonna unpack something. A Harvard study that got in, got the anti-gun crowd squirming in their seats. That's right. Harvard. Yes, Harvard. That Harvard dropped some truth bombs into the economic impact of guns, and it's, it's a game changer maybe. So now before we get into this, let's set the stage. We all know the second Amendment isn't just about self-defense or hunting, it's about freedom. It's about culture. It's about the backbone of this country. But the left, oh, they love to paint guns as some sort of boogeyman, a drain on society, a problem that needs to be solved. They'll throw out their tired talking points about gun violence and public health crisis while ignoring the real data. So, well, guess what folks? The folks at Harvard Kennedy school, hardly a bastion of NRA or Governor of America, decided to take a hard look at the economics of firearms and what they found. It's kind of a mic drop moment for every freedom loving American out there. So here's a headline from the study of by Lewis Armona, assistant Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Guns aren't just a right, they're a massive economic driver. We're talking billions of dollars in value to consumers every single year. How big? Try 18 billion annually. Just over 10% of the value people get from buying a new car. Right folks. The ability to purchase firearms pumps nearly$20 billion of benefit into the hands of everyday American, and that's not thumb back of the nap. And guess that's hard data from detailed research on supply demand and market behavior. Yes. You hear at gun drivers, your common sense reforms aren't just an attack on our rights. They're attack on our eyes, their attack on our wallets. But wait, there's more. The study didn't just stop it. Warm fuzzies for gun owners. Armona and his team dug into some smart regulations, emphasis on smart that could balance public health with economic reality. They looked at things like taxing handguns a little bit more than while easing up on lung guns. So that we'd have an a net zero impact on. Taxes between guns just to keep the consumers happy while but cutting down on fire, but hoping that this would cut down on farm's death. All the Tweet did was it said it saved 25 lives a year. About 40% of it, of an, of the impact of a big blanket tax on all guns. But yeah, so that big 40%, it was 50. If you taxed all guns, it went down to 25. Well, 25 lives are precious. It's not a big savings when you go through this and look at the economic impact of firearms. I. So that being said, I'm, I'm not sold on more taxes. You know, me, I'd rather keep America's government hands off of, of my guns and my money. But the point is, even Harvard saying a total ban or even a crackdown isn't the answer. Why? Because it'd take the$18 billion in consumer value and piss off millions of law abiding Americans. That's not a solution, that's a disaster. And don't forget the, the shall not be infringed. And I believe taxes are an infringement. So, and here's where it gets really interesting. Armana points out something we've been saying forever. Guns aren't the problem. Gun owners are where the focus should be. He talks about the long tail of ownership. 20% of gun owners hold 80% of the stock. That's a stat that should make you sit up and. Sit up straight from a public health angle. They're saying it's not about how many guns are out there, it's about who has them. So instead of wasting time on pointless buybacks, the cost of fortune and do squat, because let's be real criminals aren't lining up in there to sell, in turn in their Glocks, they're suggesting we figure out how to target the right policies at the right people, and imagine that a Harvard egghead accidentally stumbling into a pro Second Amendment argument. I'll take it now. Let's flip it over and look at from our side of the fence, the 18 billion in consumer value. That's you and me, folks. That's the hunters buying a new rifle for dear season. That's the mom picking up a concealed carry piece to protect her family. That's the competitive shoe, grabbing a new pistol for the range. Every one of these purchases isn't just an exercise of our rights. It's a boost to the economy and not just us. The firearm industry itself is a juggernaut according to the National Shooting Sports Foundation. The gun and ammo industry pumped 90 billion into the US economy in 2023 alone. That's 371% growth over 2008, over 375 thou jobs, real jobs, good jobs tied to the industry jobs here in the United States. I might point out. Bankers, retailer, manufacturer, you name it, they're all eating because of our second Amendment. And don't forget the taxes. Last year, the industry did pay over 10.9 billion in business taxes, property income, sales, you name it, but nearly a billion bucks in federal excise tax that goes to straight to wildlife conservation through the Pittman Robinson Act. That's right. Every time you buy a gun or a box of Amil, you're funding bald eagles, deer habitats in state parks. Tell me again how guns are doing a drain on society. Anti-gun crowd out there is clutching their pearls while we're literally saving the planet. One trigger pull at a time. But here's the kicker. Armon says, political capital for big gun control is scarce at the national level. Why? Because of us, because of groups like us and millions of Americans who won't roll over when our rights are on the line. He's admitting what we know all along the Second Amendment isn't just a law, it's a fortress and it's a right. And when you pair that with the economic reality, 18 billion in consumer value, 90 billion in industry impact, you've got a case that's bulletproof. Pun intended. So what's the takeaway here? Patriots. The Harvard study isn't gonna, isn't some pro-gun manifesto. It's a cold, hard. Look at the numbers. And those numbers say guns aren't just a right, they're a powerhouse. Their jobs, their freedom, their conservation, their billions of dollars, keeping the country rolling. Next time some blue haired activists tries to tell you, we need to get rid of our guns. For the greater good. You hit'em with this. 18 billion in consumer value says you're wrong. And Harvard's got the receipts. We're not just defending the Second Amendment, we're defending an American way of life. Well, that's all it is. Keep a powder dry and keep your aim true and your rights close. If you like this episode you know, subscribe, share it with people, write me a review, send me something. Follow this on x, do whatever you need to do, stay free and keep America safe. Take care and I will talk to you later.