New York Members! Help Stop a Tax on Firearms!

In an attempt to generate revenue and close the state`s enormous budget gap, Governor George Pataki (R) has included in his Executive Budget a proposal that targets, and seeks to profit from, law-abiding gun owners. The provision in budget bills S. 6056/A. 9556 will require handgun licensees to pay a $100 "certification" fee to the state, institutes a five-year expiration period for licenses (currently most jurisdictions issue lifetime licenses), and charges a fee of $25 for each handgun owned. Additionally, this proposal would remove the caps on local processing fees, which means fees can certainly be expected to climb, and in many jurisdictions could price gun owners, sportsmen, and collectors right out of the market. Instead of directly banning handguns, this proposal would simply make it too expensive to own them. Please call (518) 474-8390 or write to Governor Pataki at Executive Chamber, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224 to express your opposition to his latest attack on gun owners. It is also critical that you contact your lawmakers TODAY to tell them that they must oppose this unfair "TAX" on gun owners!  To get contact information for your representatives, please use the "Write your Representatives" tool at www.NRAILA.org