No this bill isn't another attack on actual firearms (thank goodness), but instead its an attack on ammunition. If passed, a database would be setup to store information on ammunition purchases and buyers. It would also assess a penalty of $.05 per bullet for each round purchased. It would also require each round to be factory stamped with serial numbers which would be used to record information in the database about the purchases and buyers of the ammunition. It also specifies that if you own any of the un-registered, non-stamped ammunition after July 2011, you would be required to dispose of that ammunition.
Citations Affected: IC 10-13-7.
Synopsis:
Encoded ammunition. Requires ammunition manufacturers to encode all ammunition: (1) provided for retail sale in Indiana; and (2) used in handguns and assault weapons; by July 1, 2009. Prohibits a person from selling ammunition at retail after June 30, 2009, unless the ammunition has been encoded by a manufacturer. Requires the superintendent of the state police department to establish and maintain an encoded ammunition data base before July 1, 2009. Requires ammunition manufacturers and persons who sell ammunition at retail to provide certain information concerning encoded ammunition sales and persons who purchase encoded ammunition to the superintendent for inclusion in the data base. Imposes a fee of $0.05 per round on the sale of encoded ammunition that is sold at retail. Requires the fees to be deposited in the encoded ammunition data base fund to operate the data base. Requires a person who owns ammunition for a handgun or assault weapon that is not encoded ammunition to dispose of the ammunition before July 1, 2011. Makes an appropriation.
Effective: Upon passage; July 1, 2008.
This is a ridiculous attempt to:
- Limit Hoosier Second Amendment Rights further by making the cost of ammunition for hunting, sport shooting, and personal protection rise significantly. These ridiculous stipulations would result in manufacturers either having to increase production costs (thus raising the prices to consumers) or cease sales in the state.
- Sneak in tax revenue from a select group of law abiding, responsible Hoosiers. The extra $.05 per round ($2.50 per box of 50 rounds O.O ) to help fund the newly required database.
- A round about way to start gun registration. Face it, "Requires ammunition manufacturers and persons who sell ammunition at retail to provide certain information concerning encoded ammunition sales and persons who purchase encoded ammunition to the superintendent for inclusion in the data base." simply means start making a record of the types of guns each buyer of ammunition has. What other possible "certain information" about persons ho purchase the ammunition mean?
- Effectively stop the art of reloading, as you would obviously not be allowed to buy used brass or reload your own.
Rather than address the issue of criminals and the lack luster enforcement of the existing laws, our law makers are going to further erode the rights the law abiding citizens rather than deal with the real problems. Look out Indiana, unless common sense prevails and historically thats not always the case in Hoosier politics, we could be in for more right infringement.
