[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 17 (Thursday, February 24, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                      FEDERAL FIREARM LICENSE FEE

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, the President delivered his $1.5 trillion 
budget last month, and as we all know, the devil is in the details.
  I would like to comment on one specific part of this budget. Included 
in the budget is an increase in the Federal firearm license [FFL] fee. 
The proposal would increase to $600 annually.
  Before the President signed the Brady bill into law, an FFL license 
cost $30 for 3 years. The Brady Act increased the fee to $200 for new 
applicants and $90 for renewals for the same period. The new proposal 
would increase this fee to $1,800 for the 3-year period. This is a 
1000-percent increase.
  This is a new tax which will put in jeopardy individual Montana gun 
dealers. In Montana, there are almost 3,000 individuals who hold FFL's. 
A large majority of these individuals, about 2,700, sell and trade guns 
as a hobby and for extra income. If this unrealistic increase is put 
into effect, they will not be able to cover their costs. The end result 
will be that many of these small dealers will be put out of business.
  I believe this is yet another attempt at overtaxing individuals and 
imposing gun control measures. Gunowners in Montana, including myself, 
are tired of our rights being trampled. Taxing law-abiding gun sellers 
and traders, who go through the process of getting an FFL, is not going 
to curb crime.
  As we continue with the budget process, I will be working to have 
this proposal dropped. Montana's gunowners, and those throughout 
America, are tired of getting attacked by Washington.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.

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