Well knock me over with a feather...front page coverage in the Springfield Republican.
Do you think they actually listened to us after all those calls and emails?
Do you think they actually listened to us after all those calls and emails?
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Along with a variety of other fee increases built into the governor's $28.1 billion fiscal 2009 state budget, the gun license fee increases are needed to help meet the state's fiscal challenges, Patrick's spokeswoman Cyndi M. Roy said.
"The commonwealth, like all states, is facing some difficult financial challenges," Roy said. "The (gun) licensing fees are part of a comprehensive package of solutions to address those fiscal challenges, including closing corporate tax loopholes and other revenue generating ideas, as well as continued savings and efficiencies."
Very good article,but I seem to remember that the state is prohibited by law on what the cost of a license is. I could be wrong,but IIRC they can only charge what it cost to actually process the license.
The fee for the application shall be $100, which shall be payable to the licensing authority and shall not be prorated or refunded in case of revocation or denial.
The (gun) licensing fees are part of a comprehensive package of solutions to address those fiscal challenges...
In 2003 1.5 million gun owners at $25.00 each = $37,500,000.00.
In 2008 240,000 gun owners at $100.00 each = $24,000.000.00.
-$13,500,000.00
As they tax owners out of existence they wonder why they have a shortfall. Obviously part of a larger plan. They can't be that ignorant on Beacon Hill, or can they?
"I'm from down south, where you don't need a permit to own a gun (unless it's concealed)," said one member, declining to give his name, who moved here from North Carolina.
jdubois, the other possibility is that the gun owner was misquoted.
Mike, sorry but there are some flaws in your numbers.
It was 1998 when we had 1.5M LICENSES. Many of us held two licenses (FID and LTC). I don't recall ever seeing a breakdown of numbers back then, so I have no idea how many Licensees we had. A fair number of FID holders had moved out of state or died, again making number of actual MA Licensees almost impossible to determine.
FIDs were $3.00 and issued for lifetime.
LTCs were $10.00 and issued for 5 years BEFORE Chapter 180 became law. Fees went to $25.00 in 1998 and issuance of both FIDs and LTCs were for 4 years.
In 2003 (or was it 2004?) the fees went up to $100.00 for all licenses. Eventually the fee for FID-Chemical spray only went back down to $25.00 (and I think renewals are free).
So, the math is a bit complex to figure out $ then v. now and you probably won't get any cooperation from CHSB/FRB in obtaining real, hard numbers.
Some Deval Patrick lapdog:
But, I thought they were part of a comprehensive package to save children's lives.
You mean, it's all about soaking the people for more cash???
I'm shocked.
I also love the projected revenue numbers. Of course, they're coming from the same people who believe that increasing the income tax rate from 5% to 50% will result in a commensurate ten-fold increase in tax revenue.
New state motto suggestion of the day...
Massachusetts: Proudly violating the rights of poor people since before any of the current crop of suckers still living here were even born.