LANSING — State Rep. Beau LaFave, of Iron Mountain, has introduced legislation which would prohibit the state from issuing the current sales and use tax rate of 6 percent on all purchased firearms and ammunition.

LaFave said that no other rights outlined in both the U.S. and state constitutions are subject to taxation and that doing so raises serious constitutionality questions.

“The state doesn’t tax our right to free speech. It doesn’t tax our right to vote. It doesn’t tax our right to seek counsel in trial,” LaFave said. “So why on earth is the state allowed to make a direct commission off our right to bear arms?

“As a general rule of thumb, if you can tax it, it’s not a legal right,” LaFave said. “The current sales and use tax on Michiganders’ right to bear arms is the state government failing to recognize it as a legal right.”

LaFave said Michigan’s sales and use tax on firearms and ammunition is especially burdensome for lower-income citizens, potentially hampering their ability to exercise their Second Amendment right.

House Bills 4863 and 4864 now move to the House Tax Policy Committee for further consideration.