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A call to lower costs of gun carrying in TN
In the Nashville City Paper.
"Applying for a gun carry permit in this state costs a resident an initial $115. That comes on top of an instant-check fee of $10 and a sales tax of around 10 percent on a purchase that can run anywhere from a couple of hundred dollars to a couple of thousand dollars.
On top of all of this is an extra $100 to $150 for a gun safety class from a state licensed private business that offers them. Passing the class is a prerequisite to actually obtaining the gun carry permit....
The extra costs added by state government to even a modest purchase of a $300 used handgun can almost increase the purchase price by 50 percent in an area where permit classes are given for free. The government-related charges can literally double the entry price to carrying a handgun for self-defense where these classes are not offered by local police departments."
UPDATE: public benefit is a good point. I know there have been some critiques of Lott, with his replies, but I fear statistics at that level is beyond my judgment. I did note that the debate was between (1) more CCW permits lowers crime rates and (2) more CCW permits does not affect the crime rate. Not even Lott's critics were arguing that more CCW permits increase violence.
Comments
David:
Not to mention the annual public benefit...estimated by Lott and Mustard at $5000 for each additional license.
Tell us, to your knowledge has the 1997 Lott and Mustard study ("Crime, Deterrence, and Right-to-Carry Concealed Handguns", Jornal of Legal Studies, Vol. 26, University of Chicago) been "legitimately" or even reasonably discredited?
Posted by: Carl in Chicago at January 1, 2008 10:24 AM
Makes me appreciate my home state of Washington all the more. No class required, $60 fee for permit, good for 5 years.
Our permit reciprocity isn't as good as TN's, but I don't travel that much anyway.
Posted by: ben at January 1, 2008 10:25 AM
Watch the Indiana Voter ID case. If the cost of getting a photo id is unlawful deterrant to exercising right to vote are excessive fees an unconstitutional detererant to 2nd amendment rights?
Posted by: cominius at January 2, 2008 10:58 PM
While I cringe at the thought of more taxes, I think the cost of permitting/background checks/etc. should rightfully be borne by the community at large. If society benefits from requiring a NICS check, then society should pay for it, and not shuttle all of the cost onto the shoulders of those who choose to CCW. Everyone pays for the library/parks/fire department regardless of whether they check out a book, have a picnic or suffer a fire. The same should apply here.
Posted by: Jeff at January 4, 2008 02:38 PM