Usually when anti-gun people propose new gun control measures, they tell us they only support “common sense” gun control. They also reassure us that they don’t want to take away anyone’s guns or infringe on the rights of legal gun owners.
But New Jersey’s governor wants to drop the facade. He is proposing to make it much more expensive for people to own guns in the place.
From the New York Times:
Gov. Philip D. Murphy of New Jersey wants to put the state at the forefront of a movement to raise fees on gun permits in order to expand efforts to tackle gun violence and reduce the flow of illegal firearms.
Though New Jersey has strict gun control laws, its firearms fees have not changed since the mid-1960s, making it a bargain for gun owners. A firearm identification card costs $5, while a permit to own a firearm is $2. A permit to carry a gun costs $20.
New York City, which also has stringent gun laws, charges $340 to apply for a permit to own and carry a gun.
Mr. Murphy, a Democrat, has proposed fees that would be among the highest in the country. An identification card would cost $100, an owner’s permit would be $50 and a carry permit $400.
Raising legal gun permit fees in order to combat illegal guns doesn’t make a lick of sense. This proposal will simply price the poor and middle class out of the legal gun market and push them towards the black market.
The goal is not public safety with these fee increases and excise taxes on ammunition and firearms (which Murphy is also proposing). The goal is to discourage average people from exercising a constitutional right. Take this very revealing quote from former Colorado Governor and current Democratic presidential candidate John Hickenlooper.
“The single greatest way that we were able to reduce smoking was raising the cost of cigarettes,” Mr. Hickenlooper said. “That turns out to be more effective than many other ways. But I’m not sure that’s the right way to make policy. We’re better served to be able to demonstrate to people that carrying a handgun doesn’t make you more safe.”
The goal for most gun control advocates is not “common sense” gun control. They want to abolish private firearms ownership. Raising taxes and fees is just another tool in their arsenal.