From a friend in Illinois.
This popped up this
afternoon as an amendment to SB9 that proposes a soda tax in Illinois. Senate Bill 9 with Amendment #2
The bill would impose a 5% tax on any membership or access
> fees for a shooting range or gun club.
>
> That would include: Gun club and hunt club membership, Range
> access fees (commercial range/gun shops), and range rental
> fees. There would be a tax on training classes and match
> fees to the extent they apply to range access and not
> ammunition or training costs.
>
> The 5% tax is assessed and collected like sales tax. It is
> imposed on the payment made, charged to the buyer, collected
> by the vendor, and remitted to the state. Returns would be
> filed on a monthly basis, though tax revenues under $50 per
> month would be filed annually and tax revenues under $200
> per month would be filed quarterly.
>
> The bill would also require all providers to register with
> the state and pay an annual registration fee of $75.
>
> The tax applies to a broad category of amusements, and does
> not singularly target gun clubs. It includes, country clubs,
> golf, swimming, tennis, fishing and yachting clubs, gym
> membership, sporting events, movie theaters, live-music
> venues, etc
>
> What are the practical effects of this tax;
> 1. A tax on all gun club memberships
> 2. A tax on any range rental. Whether individual at a
> commercial operation or rental for a concealed carry class
> or a Boy Scout merit badge.
> 3. A tax on match entry fees
> 4. A tax on field exercises for hunter education classes
> that take place on a range
> 5. A tax on training classes that use ranges. From concealed
> carry to premier classes offer by Shrek & MacNamara.
> 6. A tax on hunt club memberships
> 7. If you are a concealed carry instructor and use a private
> range, you will have to register, pay the $75 fee and then
> charge a tax on at least a portion of your class if not all
> of it and remit it to the State.
>
Please call your senators and urge them to oppose SB-9 with
its taxes on ranges, training and gun & hunting clubs.
They will be home all next week in their district offices.
Al