Texas Independence Day May Soon Also Be Called ‘Tax-Free Gun Purchase Day’

I just filed HB 1533, The Texas Gun Ownership Reinforcement Act, making firearms & hunting gear tax-free on Texas Independence Day! #TxLege

— Jeff Leach (@leachfortexas) February 25, 2013

Text of the bill:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT
relating to an exemption from the sales tax for firearms and hunting
supplies for a limited period.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 151, Tax Code, is amended
by adding Section 151.358 to read as follows:

Sec. 151.358. FIREARMS AND HUNTING SUPPLIES FOR LIMITED
PERIOD. (a) In this section, “hunting supplies” means ammunition,
archery equipment, hunting blinds and stands, hunting decoys,
firearm cleaning supplies, gun cases and gun safes, and hunting
optics.

(b) The sale of a firearm or hunting supplies is exempted
from the taxes imposed by this chapter if the sale takes place
during a period beginning at 12:01 a.m. on March 2 and ending at 12
midnight on the same day.

SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act does not
affect tax liability accruing before the effective date of this
Act. That liability continues in effect as if this Act had not been
enacted, and the former law is continued in effect for the
collection of taxes due and for civil and criminal enforcement of
the liability for those taxes.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.

Leach is the state rep for District 67, which covers parts of Plano, Richardson, and Dallas. In a statement, he said: “It is time for Texas to take the lead in the fight against Washington’s attempts to infringe on our 2nd Amendment freedoms – and this unique legislation does just that.” He added that the bill has the support of the NRA, which, duh.