A Tennessee Democrat has introduced a bill that would impose a “thoughts and prayers” tax on firearm sales in the state.
State Rep. Beau Mitchell’s bill would impose a 15% sales tax on firearms sold at retail stores, with the proceeds going to the Tennessee Department of Education to help hire school counselors. .
“Just kidding, I went with an AR-15 percent,” Mitchell told WKRN. “I call this the ‘Thoughts and Prayers Tax.’ If we do nothing else in this state, we will put this tax into a fund that will help our children through 12 mental health counselors.” We are going to fund it.”
“If we don’t fix this problem, we’re going to need more mental health counselors in schools because of school shootings and kids being sent home. Instead, they say, “Shoot your own or your neighbor’s kids. Either we act and do something, or we have to collect taxes to pay for the other problems it’s causing.” raft,” he added.
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A Tennessee Democrat has introduced a bill that would impose a “thoughts and prayers” tax on firearm sales in the state. (Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Mitchell said he got the idea for the bill from a Republican voter who spoke at a recent town hall event near Nashville, an area Mitchell represents. According to WKRN, the man stood up and identified himself as a gun owner and frequent hunter.
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“He said if we want to solve this, one way to solve the gun problem is to support a bill that would impose a tax on the sale of firearms,” Mitchell said. “I said, ‘I’d be happy to submit that bill.'”
But the bill is unlikely to succeed because Republicans hold a supermajority in the state Legislature.
Rep. Beau Mitchell “sarcastically” referred to AR-15 rifles and set a proposed gun sales tax at 15%. (AP Photo/Andrew Selsky, File)
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Mitchell went on to argue that if state legislatures passed red flag laws, safe storage laws, and assault weapons bans, there would be no need for a sales tax on guns.
The full text of Mitchell’s proposed bill is below.
