Weekly Wrap: Georgia Eyes Tax Breaks for Guns as Policy Debates Intensify
Georgia's proposed tax holiday for gun purchases, national efforts on gun control, and Colorado's push to ban firearms in sensitive areas.
PPT Editor-in-Chief. Professional journalist 15+ years. NRA & BLS instructor. 2000+ articles
We review products independently. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission to help support our testing. Learn more.
Welcome to a weekly series here on Pew Pew Tactical dedicated to the gun news you need to know.
So, keep reading for this week’s notable news headlines…
Table of Contents
Trending: Best AR-15s & CCW Guns Under $400
Georgia Senate Passes Bill on Tax Holiday on Guns & Ammo
Georgia lawmakers passed a bill this week that would set up an annual tax holiday for gun, ammo, and gear purchases.
Senate Bill 344 aims to create a five-day annual sales tax exemption on firearms, ammunition, optics, safes, and other relevant shooting gear.
Introduced by Sen. Jason Anavitarte (R), the bill was co-sponsored by 20 other Republicans and eventually passed 30-23.
"I’m a firm believer in the Second Amendment, so I would make the argument that less taxes are better on Second Amendment items," Anavitarte said in a statement.
Though the bill cleared the Senate, it still needs to pass the House and be signed into law by Gov. Brian Kemp.
Kemp is a staunch 2A supporter, so if the bill makes it to his desk, he will likely sign it.
"This is a free society. It is a free country. We have a Second Amendment. We can exercise our individual rights if we want to. You don't have to do that. And we've been doing that for a long time, and Georgia is a state that supports that,” Kemp said at the Governor’s Forum held at SHOT Show in Las Vegas in January.
If Georgia moves forward with the tax holiday, it will join other states like Mississippi and Louisiana.
White House Hosts “Gun Violence Prevention” Events
The Biden Administration hosted gun violence prevention events this week at the White House in an effort to push Congress to take more action on gun control.
Organized by the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the events enabled local leaders to gain information and connect with federal resources.
Proclaiming the week “Community Violence Awareness Week,” the Administration’s events culminated in a ceremony to honor 31 graduates of the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Community Violence Intervention Leadership Academy.
The Office of Gun Violence Prevention was created in September 2023 to speed up gun-related executive actions the Biden Administration announced earlier in the year.
"Gun violence is a public health crisis that impacts our communities every day," Greg Jackson, deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, told USA Today.
"And while we know we need action from Congress, there's a lot we can do to create an all-of-government approach to this health crisis, and our team is charged with that."
The Office of Gun Violence Prevention states its mission is to help reduce gun violence through strategic actions while also creating partnerships and resource opportunities for local and state leaders to tackle gun violence in their areas.
Colorado Looks to Ban Guns in “Sensitive Places”
Colorado lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday that would ban guns in so-called “sensitive places.”
Senate Bill 24-131 would prohibit guns in 19 locations, including public parks, recreation centers, hospitals, bars, libraries, and sporting venues, among others.
The bill, sponsored by a group of Democratic senators, defines these locations as “sensitive spaces” and would prohibit firearms entirely – whether concealed or not – though it does offer exemptions for law enforcement, security personnel, and military members.
Though churches and places of worship were included in the list, there was a carve-out for those locations to decide whether to allow carry on their premises.
“I am sponsoring this bill because my constituents are tired of thoughts and prayers in response to gun violence. They want us to take action that makes common sense. This is one of the bills to do so,” sponsor Sen. Chris Kolker of Centennial told Colorado Newsline.
“It is about the safety of these people, where there are vulnerable populations of children, the sick, mentally ill; high stress, very crowded environments, where people are exercising their constitutional right to free speech, where judgements can be clouded by alcohol. It is our duty to limit the opportunity for harm in vulnerable public places and to vulnerable people.”
Pro-gun groups immediately pounced on the bill, calling it an overreach and pointing out that other states that have attempted something similar have been hit with a bevy of lawsuits.
“This idea has already been ruled unconstitutional by a federal judge out of California. We already have the commitment from [Mountain States Legal Foundation] that if this bill becomes law, we will join together and sue,” the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners tweeted.
The state is poised to consider a slew of anti-gun bills this legislative session, in addition to S.B. 24-131.
“There’s more bad bills coming, but we can’t back down. We can’t give the left an inch, and we have to promise that this will be met with lawsuits in court,” RMGO Executive Director Taylor Rhodes vowed.
The bill to ban carry virtually everywhere you would want/need to carry (https://t.co/CYyuS4NssG) has been filed.
— Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (@RMGOColorado) February 7, 2024
We will need all hands on deck to fight back against this blatant overreach. #coleg #copolitics pic.twitter.com/HwJC6H2OCC
Colorado’s legislative session stays in session until early May.
TriStar Trading Co. Launches Fundraiser for Paul Harrell
Apparel company TriStar Trading Co. is giving back to gun industry legend Paul Harrell, fundraising to help his family after a recent cancer diagnosis.
Harrell is known for his in-depth and often soothing gun reviews. He recently took to his YouTube to announce he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. In an effort to help support Harrell's family during this time, TriStar organized a tee-shirt fundraiser.
The Legends Live Forever shirt is a super soft tee available in sizes small to 6XL. All proceeds go directly to the Harrell family.
TriStar Trading's owners, Emily Sikora and Johnny B., told Pew Pew Tactical that Harrell's impact is felt across the 2A world and, as such, the company wanted to lend a helping hand.
"I have loved Paul Harrell and his YouTube work since day one. It’s funny, my channel loosely got tied in with his years ago, and it’s been such a fun ride," Johnny B. told Pew Pew Tactical. "It’s not hyperbole to say that he is absolutely a legend. We’ve been wrestling for months on what to do, and last week the idea came to do a fundraiser. Bottom line, we love Paul and wanted to find a way to say thank you to him for the years of content."
Sikora echoed that sentiment, saying that after working with Harrell on merchandise in 2021, there was no doubt the company was poised to help.
"We’ve greatly enjoyed working with him and his team and are grateful to run this fundraiser to further support him. Paul is well respected in the 2A YouTube community. The impact of this project has already exceeded our expectations," Sikora told Pew Pew Tactical.
To snag a tee and support Harrell, click the box below.
