Firearm Tax Fiasco: Democratic Senator Faces Backlash Over Delayed Vote
Democratic state Sen. Kyle Mullica is under criticism from fellow Democrats for allegedly stalling a vote on a proposed new firearms excise tax.
The proposal would place a question on the November ballot asking voters to levy an excise tax on firearms and ammunition purchases. The funds would be used to provide mental health assistance to victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes.
Mullica chairs Colorado’s Senate Finance Committee, and members of the Democratic Women’s Caucus have publicly accused him of blocking one of the party’s top gun measures for the session. If he refuses to put House Bill 1349 to a vote, it may be dropped from the agenda when the legislative session concludes next week, May 8.
“It is not acceptable that Senator Mullica could single-handedly prevent the people of Colorado from weighing in on this critical issue,” writes a letter from the Women’s Caucus. Senator Mullica told CPR News that he hasn’t scheduled a hearing date because he’s been working with sponsors and advocates to resolve his concerns.
“This is why it has not yet been scheduled. There are still active conversations going on.
He stated that the letter contained some misleading narratives and that he would not stop a vote. “When you have issues or concerns with a bill you try to work to get that addressed, and that’s what I’ve been doing multiple times a day with the sponsors and advocates,” Mullica said.
He stated that a gun tax is an emotionally sensitive issue that deserves to be discussed in greater depth. “The bill calls for funding for some good things,” he went on to say. “But it’s a tax.”
It is not uncommon for bills to be up in the air during the final week of the legislative session when the Capitol becomes a very fluid and fast-paced environment. For example, a law prohibiting the sale and transfer of “assault” weapons has yet to be heard in the Senate, but the chair of that committee has already confirmed that a public hearing will be held.
The Democratic women’s caucus, which is a voluntary membership comprised of 23 Democratic women from both chambers, stated in a formal letter that they were extremely disappointed in Mullica for delaying scheduling the excise tax measure for a hearing, “and indicating he will not pass it if he does.”
“This will prevent the bill from being heard by the full Senate, and make it impossible for the measure to go before voters,” the letter said.
Monica Duran, the House Majority Leader, is the measure’s major sponsor. She stated that as a survivor of domestic violence, the bill is important to her heart. She wants to assist other victims in obtaining the services they require, and she feels fortunate to have fled her abuser. “I found myself struggling to make ends meet, navigate the court system, and get the mental health care I needed in my darkest time,” Duran wrote in a blog post. “Victim services changed my life as a single mom trying to provide a home and healthy environment for my son.”
The bill passed the House with nearly complete Democratic support, although one Democrat joined Republicans in opposing it. Opponents claim it is an unjust levy on gun owners and violates Second Amendment rights. They claim it is part of a trend of Democratic measures this session that would be burdensome and onerous for law-abiding gun owners in the state.
However, the bill still needs to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate. The first step is the Finance Committee, which has a Democratic 4-3 majority. If the committee does not consider the legislation by May 7, there will be insufficient time to enact it before the session ends on May 8.