* Sun-Times…
U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, joined by Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Chris Kennedy, announced Sunday he plans to introduce a bill this week that would raise federal taxes on the purchase of guns and ammunition.
The Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act would increase federal excise taxes on shells and cartridges from 11 percent to 50 percent. It also calls for an increase in taxes on the sale of pistols and revolvers from 10 percent to 20 percent.
Taxes on other firearms, including assault weapons, would rise from 11 percent to 20 percent under the legislation Davis said he plans to introduce Tuesday.
Money collected by the tax increase would go toward funding anti-violence programs.
“There’s no reason to have the ability for individual citizens to walk around with assault weapons,” Davis said, noting that a goal of the legislation is to make buying bullets for such weapons cost prohibitive.
“We need to ban assault rifles in the state of Illinois. But until then, we need to tax everyone so they pay their fair share,” Kennedy said.
* CBS 2…
Democratic candidate for governor Chris Kennedy joined Davis outside Mount Sinai Hospital saying bullet and gun producers should shoulder the cost.
“I think we’ve made the moral argument. I think we’ve made the religious argument. We’ve made the theological argument. We’ve made the legal argument,” says Kennedy. “We’ve made the justice argument that the violence needs to end. And today we’re making the financial argument.”
* On to the News-Gazette’s endorsement…
In this field, Kennedy is the superior candidate.
Liberal voters who want a liberal governor will have no complaints with his approach to the issues. At the same time, he’s made it clear that he has no use for the Democratic insiders who’ve enriched themselves through their political connections. That includes people like Madigan, Cook County Assessor Joseph Berrios and many others known and unknown by the people of Illinois.
Kennedy, a scion of the political family, has emphasized economic development and improved educational opportunities for the people and children of Illinois.
All the candidates cite those issues, and they mean it — to one degree or another.
Kennedy seems particularly sincere about education. But achieving his goals will never happen unless he or others create a business atmosphere that provides the kind of job opportunities — and tax revenues — that sustain a strong and growing middle class. […]
There’s no use pretending The News-Gazette sees eye to eye with Kennedy on every issue. Our philosophical differences are vast. Nonetheless, he’s a sincere advocate for his causes and would be a strong candidate in the fall election.
* This is a better one…
* Only two weekend Saturday events were on Kennedy’s public schedule…
Saturday, February 23:
Lake County Meet and Greet
474 Central Avenue, Highland Park, IL 60035
10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Chris Kennedy will host a Meet and Greet with local supporters.
Invest to Elect Forum
New Trier Township High School Northfield, 7 N Happ Rd, Northfield, IL 60093
2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Chris Kennedy will participate in Invest to Elect’s Candidate Forum
He also marched in yesterday’s Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade.
…Adding… I searched my in-box for his Sunday schedule and didn’t see it. Here it is…
Sunday, February 25:
Chris Kennedy Church Visit
Apostolic Church of God, 6320 S Dorchester Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
9:10 a.m. to 10:10 a.m.
Chris Kennedy will attend service at Apostolic Church of God
Press Conference with Congressman Danny Davis
Mount Sinai Hospital Emergency Room, 1500 S California Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Chris Kennedy will speak at a press conference with Congressman Danny Davis
Chris Kennedy Church Visit
First Pentecostal Church of God, 5146 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60609
12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Chris Kennedy will attend service and speak at First Pentecostal Church of God
Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
W 24th St & S Wentworth Ave, Chicago, IL 60616
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Chris Kennedy will walk in the Chinatown Lunar New Year Parade
And…
* Sneed…
Kissin’ Cousins . . .
All in the family: U.S. Congressman Joe Kennedy III, who hit town last week to stump for Dem gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy, told a private, no-press-allowed gathering in Chicago last week: “He [Chris] is always there for the family. The one we all look up to. The one we count on. His birthday is July 4, one big reason we chose that date for the entire family to come together once a year.”
Ka-ching!
Hill swill: The anti-J.B. Pritzker-for-Illinois-governor contingents are clucking and clack-clack-clacking over whether J.B., who stuffed gobs of green stuff into Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign coffers — will invite Hillary to stump for him now that her popularity is listless in the polls.
Place a bet anyone?
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:18 pm:
This is how Rauner stands a chance.
- Just Observing - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:22 pm:
Anyone that argues that gun owners should be more regulated and trained should oppose this concept. Responsible gun ownership requires practice, and it is already expensive enough to go to the range and practice. Increasing the price of ammunition is a sure fire (excuse the pun) way to make sure gun owners practice less, have less accuracy, and are less confident around their gun. Stupid, stupid, stupid policy.
- Mann Horace - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:22 pm:
“we need to tax everyone so they pay their fair share.” Is a Rauner plant giving Kennedy his talking points?
- Pundent - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:30 pm:
=“We need to ban assault rifles in the state of Illinois. But until then, we need to tax everyone so they pay their fair share,” Kennedy said.=
What an utterly bizarre statement. I don’t even know if they are mutually exclusive.
- Anon0091 - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:31 pm:
Couldn’t help but notice the contrast between this line in Rich’s Kennedy item:
“Only two weekend events were on Kennedy’s public schedule… Only two weekend events were on Kennedy’s public schedule…”
And this line in his JB item:
“Pritzker’s Sunday schedule made me tired just reading it…”
Maybe it’s just how Rich wrote it but one of these guys seems to be working his tail off and the other guy is Chris Kennedy.
BTW, just so I’m not accused of just being a blind partisan, I should also mention that I saw Kennedy and Pritzker at the New Trier forum on Saturday. Kennedy was way, way better than the last time I saw him a few months back. So he’s definitely improved on the stump.
- Anon62704 - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:32 pm:
“we need to tax everyone so they pay their fair share.” Sounds regressive /s
- 47th Ward - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:32 pm:
Sneed is awful. That little snippet above was all I needed. Looks like I’ll be skipping lunch today.
- Left of the Lake - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:35 pm:
Kennedy also attend the Lake County Democratic Convention on Sunday 25th hosted by the multiple Township Dem Orgs and the 10th democrats. Biss and JB both made it up for this event as well.
- CentrIL - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:35 pm:
Dude doesn’t Kennedy live or die with downstate Dems? Dude this ain’t helping
- west wing - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:36 pm:
First big downstate endorsement goes Kennedy.
- Anon324 - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:41 pm:
==Dude doesn’t Kennedy live or die with downstate Dems?==
Based on the strategy to date, this does not seem to be correct. His strategy seems to be getting as much of the African-American vote as possible as well as dems who do not care for Madigan, as well as pluck enough of those in the areas around college towns downstate to supplement those groups. His campaign has not done a lot of work in central and southern Illinois because they don’t have the money to do it, so it’s hard to see how he’d be overly dependent on those voters.
- Fax Machine - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:42 pm:
Hillary will not be campaigning for Pritzker. While he’s not hiding it or denying it, he has taken every effort not to mention his large role in the Hillary 2016 effort, so I don’t see him asking her to come campaign for him in the primary.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:54 pm:
I’m not convinced that just making guns more expensive to own without getting rid of semi-automatic weapons is going to solve much of anything. A cynical person would even argue that making more tax revenue from guns is an economic incentive against reducing the number of them. Let’s not confuse the issue more than it already is.
- Precinct Captain - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:54 pm:
Imagine how Kennedy could be cleaning up if he would put in the work to raise some cash?
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 12:58 pm:
drive up internet ammo sales and hurt local businesses smart
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:08 pm:
Every attack on guns increases sales. Look it up.
- Just Observing - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:09 pm:
=== drive up internet ammo sales and hurt local businesses smart ===
I don’t agree with the tax, but it seems as if he’s talking about a federal tax not a state tax, so assuming internet ammo charges/pays federal ammo taxes.
- Anon324 - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:13 pm:
==drive up internet ammo sales and hurt local businesses smart==
I ask this because it’s just not something I’m familiar with–are there really that many internet ammo sellers that don’t collect state sales taxes? Most e-commerce sites have implemented the software updates necessary to collect those taxes, albeit without the municipal taxes that are also collected at local businesses.
- Anon324 - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:16 pm:
@Just Observing–right you are. I suppose my prior question stands, but this does somewhat make the point a moot one.
- Cheryl44 - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:17 pm:
That’s Chris Rock’s gun control idea–make the bullets too expensive to waste shooting at each other.
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:19 pm:
== This is how Rauner stands a chance. ==
Yep. Would be enough to make me sit this one out, since I won’t vote for Rauner.
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:23 pm:
RNUG. I think many union households as well.
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:27 pm:
===Imagine how Kennedy could be cleaning up if he would put in the work to raise some cash?===
My thoughts exactly. Heard he was not a big fan of call time.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:29 pm:
===Every attack on guns increases sales===
But if this tax hike was in place the government would make out like a bandit.
- Texas Red - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:31 pm:
The vast majority of Gun crimes are committed by folks that did not legal possess or purchase the firearm; he same is likely true for the Ammunition. So Representative Davis’s bill will unduly burden law abiding citizens while doing little to stop gun crimes.
- jimk849 - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:39 pm:
Just because my father was a tailor doesn’t necessarily mean that I could sew a button.Il. politics must be considered the novice division at best.
- Just Observing - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 1:42 pm:
=== The vast majority of Gun crimes are committed by folks that did not legal possess or purchase the firearm; he same is likely true for the Ammunition. So Representative Davis’s bill will unduly burden law abiding citizens while doing little to stop gun crimes. ===
And let’s assume a “bad guy” does in fact legally purchase ammo… it’s not like he’s gonna think, gee, I would rob that bank or shoot-up that school, but the ammo is just too darn expensive to do that.
- Get a Job!! - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 2:23 pm:
This is such a silly idea on multiple levels.
First off, its regressive. This makes it more difficult for poor families to protect themselves and their homes.
Secondly, the vast majority of mass shooters are willing to (and often do) die in the act of their crimes. As a result they often don’t care about the cost of the gun/ammo. I doubt many of these people care whether they die with a positive or a negative net worth.
- Whizbang - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 2:29 pm:
Which is why I always pick up a box or two of ammo when in St. Louis. It is a great feeling to just walk up and pay for it. Though I have a FOID, I get a kick out of not being asked for it.
- SOIL M - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 2:34 pm:
I bought a rifle in IL a couple months ago. The last 2 long guns i bought were in a neighboring state. The hassles associated with background checks done by isp instead of NICS was enough to make me decide not to make that mistake again. Others that went thru the same thing agreed. Taxing ammo and raising taxes on firearms will not only force more sales to go elsewhere, it will make the expense for those who with lower incomes unable to afford firearms to defend themselves and their homes. But to some people thats all just fine.
- downstate commissioner - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 2:41 pm:
So some of the anti-gunners think this is a good idea? Do you know how many gun owners in the US really care less about assault rifles, but use handguns, military surplus bolt-actions, shotguns and rifles for hunting, target practice, and just plinking? They all buy ammunition. And a lot of them will be screaming about that kind of tax, which really has nothing to do with the school shootings.
- downstate commissioner - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 2:49 pm:
Isn’t Danny Davis a Chicago-area legislator? And Kennedy is endorsing a plan from a Chicago-area legislator to tax my (downstate)ammo purchases. As long as Pritzker doesn’t jump on the same bandwagon, he just got my vote for him firmed up.
- CrazyHorse - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 3:05 pm:
This is just the latest incarnation of the pop tax by Preckwinkle. Basically it says “We have no tangible solutions but hey, if we can look like we’re being proactive AND generating revenue…Win-Win!
Always tax under the guise of public safety. Red light and Speed cameras would make the roads safer, the Pop tax would curb childhood obesity, and now the Bullet Tax will help mass shootings. These guys are like a hamster on a wheel. They’re constantly moving and making some noise but ultimately going nowhere.
- TKMH - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 3:14 pm:
==This makes it more difficult for poor families to protect themselves and their homes.==
Poor families rely on the police for protection, not a $500 gun.
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 3:28 pm:
== Poor families rely on the police for protection, not a $500 gun. ==
More like a $50 Saturday Night Special …
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 3:31 pm:
-blue dog-
If the Democrats could ever get a fiscally conservative, mostly socially liberal gun supporter (or at least neutral), they could dominate the State.
But I don’t think you or I have enough years left to see that happen.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 3:35 pm:
===a fiscally conservative, mostly socially liberal gun supporter (or at least neutral), they could dominate the State===
First they have to win a primary.
- Actual Red - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 4:02 pm:
I don’t like Kennedy’s idea at all.
As other users have said, most gun crimes are committed with unlawfully possessed weapons. But, since most gun deaths are suicides and since the proliferation of legal guns makes them much much easier to obtain illegally, the best way to reduce gun deaths/injuries is to reduce the number of guns in circulation.
However, a tax achieves that goal (if it does achieve that) in a socioeconomically and therefore racially unbalanced way. There has to be a more egalitarian option.
- Texas Red - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 4:15 pm:
“Poor families rely on the police for protection, not a $500 gun”
In many rural communities in Illinois the nearest LEO might be 20 miles away by county road. Those “poor” families often rely on firearms for protection.
- Bobby Hicks - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 4:15 pm:
Ammo tax - people with just reload more. It’s pretty easy to do.
- Bobby Hicks - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 4:17 pm:
Will reload….sorry.
- blue dog dem - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 4:32 pm:
RNUG. Your just described Jerry Costello II. I have what my kids call a man crush on his politics. Great union guy as well.
- Rich Miller - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 4:35 pm:
===RNUG. Your just described Jerry Costello II===
Jerry is most definitely not socially liberal. At all. Your man-crush has gotten the best of your brain.
- Lil Lebowski Urban Achiever - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 6:01 pm:
A downstate endorsement and a bold anti-gun proposal. Not a bad weekend for Kennedy.
What’s JB’s proposal? “We need to beat Bruce Rauner and stand up to Donald Trump… because that’s what polling tells me to say.” JB’s campaign is the most intellectually bankrupt campaign I’ve seen in long time.
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 6:16 pm:
== First they have to win a primary. ==
Hence, my quilifier …
- blue dog dem - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 6:23 pm:
This a pity. I believe we will see income tax levels nearing 8% within a decade. I’ll be checking out about that time, but my poor kids and grandkids will be facing that age old question. Should I stay or should I go?
- Anonymous - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 8:04 pm:
TKMH @ 3:14 pm- “Poor families rely on the police for protection, not a $500 gun.”
Right, people in dangerous Chicago neighborhoods rely on the police to “protect” them, what are you smoking? Some sources show police in America killing more than 1,000 citizens per year, and more Americans killed by police since the 2003 invasion of Iraq than American military deaths in Iraq and Afghanistan to date. Disarm the cops if you want to reduce the firearm death rate.
After using Otis McDonald as a front for their Supreme Court case, black people in Chicago are still waiting for NRA to remove the ban on CTA carry from Rep. Brandon Phelps concealed carry bill, so they can actually take the bus and El to work and get some use out of their carry license. Thank God NRA fired Todd Vandermyde so he can’t do any more damage. At least with the Danny Davis ammo tax bill you know who’s against you.
- Graduated College Student - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 8:10 pm:
===So some of the anti-gunners think this is a good idea? Do you know how many gun owners in the US really care less about assault rifles, but use handguns, military surplus bolt-actions, shotguns and rifles for hunting, target practice, and just plinking? They all buy ammunition. And a lot of them will be screaming about that kind of tax, which really has nothing to do with the school shootings. ===
Good point. I’m pretty sure handguns are responsible for a majority of gun-used deaths-both homicides and suicides. So making it harder to buy those also has a societal benefit.
- RNUG - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 8:13 pm:
== Should I stay or should I go? ==
If I go, there will be trouble
And if I stay it will be double
- Last Bull Moose - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 8:41 pm:
BDD Two of my 3 kids are gone. The third is California dreaming and graduates in a year.
- Blue dog dem - Monday, Feb 26, 18 @ 9:00 pm:
LBM. I hope you get to see them. My daughter lives in OldTown. Me south illinois. Five hours is tough but doable. At least I get to see my kids. These poor folks losing their children in these massacres is gut wrentching.