Petition to Oppose Senate Bill 118

I, the undersigned resident and supporter of the State of Maryland, respectfully urge the Maryland General Assembly to oppose Senate Bill 118, which would impose an 11% excise tax on firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition.

While public safety and violence prevention are important goals, Senate Bill 118 places the financial burden of these efforts on law-abiding citizens and small businesses, not on criminals who commit acts of violence.

This proposed tax would:

• Increase the cost of exercising a fundamental constitutional right

• Disproportionately impact working families, seniors, and low-income residents

• Harm small, federally licensed firearms dealers operating legally in Maryland

• Raise the cost of training, safety equipment, and ammunition

• Establish a precedent for taxing constitutional rights

Criminals do not purchase firearms, accessories, or ammunition through lawful channels, and therefore will not meaningfully contribute to the revenue generated by this tax. Instead, the burden falls entirely on responsible citizens who comply with the law.

Maryland already has extensive firearm regulations in place. Adding a new excise tax does not address the root causes of violent crime and risks driving lawful commerce out of the state while doing little to improve public safety.

We respectfully ask members of the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates to reject Senate Bill 118 and pursue violence-reduction strategies that do not penalize lawful ownership, commerce, or constitutional rights.