Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “Protecting Honest, Everyday Americans from Senseless And Needless Taxes (PHEASANT) Act of 2013”.
Protecting Honest, Everyday Americans from Senseless And Needless Taxes (PHEASANT) Act of 2013
A BILL
To limit the authority of States and local governments to impose new taxes, or to increase rates of existing taxes, payable with respect to the sale of certain firearms or ammunition or payable for background checks incident to sales of firearms or ammunition.
Sec. 2 Findings and purpose
Findings— The Congress finds the following:
The individual right to keep and bear arms protected by the Second Amendment to the Constitution includes the right to acquire firearms and ammunition without undue burdens.
Jurisdictions have imposed taxes or fees on the acquisition of firearms and ammunition that inhibit the exercise of the Second Amendment, particularly among individuals of limited means.
Local taxation of firearms and ammunition suppresses lawful interstate commerce that is vital to a robust Second Amendment to the Constitution.
The Congress has the authority to regulate interstate commerce in firearms and ammunition to ensure that States are not suppressing access to these lawful products.
The singling out of firearms and ammunition for special taxation as a means to suppress their acquisition is an infringement of the Second Amendment and disproportionately affects those in low income communities whose need for self-defense may be especially acute.
Purpose— The purpose of this Act is to prevent States or local jurisdictions from using their taxing power to suppress lawful interstate commerce and protected constitutional activity.
Sec. 3 Limitation on authority to impose State and local taxes on sales of certain firearms and ammunition
No State or local government may—
impose a new tax on the sale of firearms (or of any certain type of firearms) that have moved in or that otherwise affect interstate commerce, or on the sale of ammunition (or of any certain type of ammunition) that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate commerce, if the respective State or local government does not have in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act a tax on such sale of firearms or ammunition, or
increase the rate of a tax imposed on the sale of firearms (or of any certain type of firearms) that have moved in or that otherwise affect interstate commerce, or on the sale of ammunition (or of any certain type of ammunition) that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate commerce, in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act expressly applicable to such sale of firearms or ammunition.
Sec. 4 Limitation on authority to impose State and local taxes payable for conducting background checks incident to the sale of firearms and ammunition
No State or local government may—
impose a tax payable to conduct a background check incident to the sale of firearms (or any certain type of firearms) that have moved in or that otherwise affect interstate commerce, or to the sale of ammunition (or any certain type of ammunition) that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate commerce, if the respective State or local government does not have in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act a tax payable to conduct a background check incident to the sale of firearms or ammunition, or
increase the rate of a tax imposed to conduct background checks incident to the sale of firearms (or any certain type of firearms) that have moved in or that otherwise affect interstate commerce, or to the sale of ammunition (or any certain type of ammunition) that has moved in or that otherwise affects interstate commerce, in effect on the date of the enactment of this Act payable to conduct such checks.
Sec. 5 Definitions
For purposes of this Act:
Ammunition— The term ammunition has the meaning given such term in section 921 of title 18 of the United States Code.
Background check— The term background check means a check performed by the system then in effect under section 103 of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (18 U.S.C. 922 note) or pursuant to any State law that mandates an inquiry into an individual’s criminal, mental health, or other personal history as a prerequisite to the transfer or acquisition of a firearm.
Firearm— The term firearm has the meaning given such term in section 921 of title 18 of the United States Code.
Local government— The term local government means a political subdivision of a State.
Sale— The term sale means transfer, sell, trade, or give for value or otherwise.
State— The term State means any of the several States, the District of Columbia, or any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.
Tax— The term tax means a tax, fee, or charge payable to the State or local government.
Sec. 6 Severability
If any provision of this Act, or the application of such provision to any person, entity, or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remaining provisions of this Act, and the application of such provisions to any person, entity, or circumstance, shall not be affected thereby.
Sec. 7 Effective date; application of Act
Effective date— Except as provided in subsection (b), this Act shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.
Application of Act— This Act shall not apply with respect to any liability for taxes accrued and enforced before the date of enactment of this Act or to ongoing litigation relating to such taxes.