California adopts first US state tax on guns, ammunition

SACRAMENTO, California: Intending to raise some US$160 million per year to help prevent gun violence, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law this week a first-in-the-nation state excise tax on sales of firearms and ammunition.

Due to come into force in July 2024, the California excise tax will add an 11 percent levy on top of the existing federal excise gun and ammo tax, a rate of 10 or 11 percent, dep