My Congressman Proposes 1,000 Percent Tax on "Weapons of War:" Showboating 101
Guns for me, not for thee. Wealthy car dealer and Virginia Congressman Don Beyer's latest antic on guns is embarrassing, elitist, and stupid
Washington’s “close-in” suburbs in Northern Virginia are deep-blue territory, politically speaking. It is very wealthy, highly educated, and predominantly white and liberal.
I happen to live in Arlington, Virginia, particularly the Commonwealth’s Eighth Congressional District. It’s a beautiful district, home to Arlington Cemetary, The Pentagon, George Washington’s Mount Vernon, and other historic venues. Bordering the beautiful Potomac River, Old Town Alexandria is a must-see on any visit to your nation’s capital. It is also home to the nation’s worst-maintained but most-scenic bike trail, the narrow and bumpy Mount Vernon Trail, popular with Lance Armstrong wannabes. Maybe Don Beyer could spend a little more time on that, since it is maintained, ostensibly, by the National Park Service.
My current Congressman, since 2014, is an unaccomplished hard-left Democrat, Don Beyer. A former ambassador (Lichenstein and Switzerland during the Obama Administration), he is best known for his eight forgettable years as Virginia’s Lieutenant Governor from 1989 to 1997. He lost the governor’s race in 1997 to Republican Jim Gilmore, who brilliantly ran on a proposal to eliminate Virginia’s unique and onerous “car tax.” He won approval to phase it out, but now Democratic US Sen. Tim Kaine, his successor as governor, restored much of it. Democrats like to keep your money.
Kaine is another unaccomplished Virginia Democrat best known for being Hillary Clinton’s 2016 running mate (you forgot?).
On second thought, I’m wrong about Don Beyer. Beyer is best known for his name adorning dealerships of foreign car companies throughout northern Virginia, especially Don Beyer Volvo in Falls Church, one of the Eighth District cities. A Chinese company, Geely, now owns Volvo. Beyer sold his interest in the company in 2019. But you’ll find the Beyer name at lots that sell Kia, Subaru, Mazda, and Volkswagen. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.
Since and including his first race, none of Beyer's opponents have eclipsed 33 percent in a district categorized as a D+21 district on the Cook Political Report’s Partisan Vote Index (PVI). Last election’s GOP nominee, retired Army Major Jeff Jordan, won 24 percent. That makes it one of the most Democratic districts in the nation. Trump captured less than 21 percent of the vote here in 2016 and 2020. I hope my 2022 GOP nominee, the polished and impressive Karina Lipsman, a Ukrainian refugee and national defense expert, can eclipse that. I bet she will. Especially this election year. Even here.
But perhaps Beyer, like many Democrats, is looking over his left shoulder at an even more progressive primary challenger, the Stanford-educated Victoria Verasingh, whom he faces in a July 21st primary. It’s no secret that congressional incumbents, given how redistricting is conducted, are more worried about their primaries than their general elections, with exceptions. That’s true of both parties.
Why might Beyer be worried? It beats me, but the unimpressive septuagenarian loudly announced new legislation this week to impose a 1,000 percent tax on “assault weapons” (not defined) and magazines holding more than ten rounds. The Washington Times reports:
A Democratic congressman is drafting legislation that would impose a 1,000% tax on assault weapons in response to a terrifying spate of mass shootings.
Rep. Don Beyer’s bill would create an excise tax on the sale of military-style semi-automatic rifles, including the popular AR-15-style rifles, and ammunition magazines that hold more than 10 bullets. The Virginia Democrat is pushing for the bill to pass in the Senate without GOP support using a special procedure known as budget reconciliation.
“Congress must act to prevent mass shootings,” Mr. Beyer said on social media. “I’m writing a bill to restrict the flow of weapons of war into American communities — including AR-15s and high capacity magazines — that could bypass the filibuster and pass with just 50 votes in the Senate.”
The bill is designed to inflate the price of semi-automatic rifles to a point where it becomes too expensive for average Americans to purchase one.
A new AR-15-style rife can cost consumers anywhere between $400 to $2,000, depending on modifications. Mr. Beyer’s 1,000% tax could drive up the price from anywhere between $4,000 to $20,000.
We haven’t seen Beyer’s bill yet, especially his definition of a "weapon of war” (Army soldiers are issued and equipped with pistols and knives). Still, suppose you’re one of northern’s Virginia’s growing legion of working-class Hispanic families living in a neighborhood prone to crime. In that case, Beyer wants to deprive you of your ability to protect yourself and your family. This district has the Commonwealth’s highest population of Hispanics, by the way.
True, Arlington and Alexandria Counties have terrific police departments. And they’re understaffed.
Beyer’s dumb idea is not a new one. Leftists for years have proposed massive taxes on ammunition and guns. And they are consistently rejected. But we know what Beyer is doing here. He not only wants to be seen as “doing something” ahead of his sleepy primary election but also providing a vehicle to circumvent the Senate’s 60-vote filibuster. A “tax” can be added to a budget “reconciliation” bill immune from the filibuster. Clever!
Joe Manchin, call your office. This is one dog that won’t hunt. In fact, it is likely unconstitutional, since it denies a clearly-established right of “self-defense” not just for the wealthy, but for every citizen. Not that Beyer would care.
This is a very wealthy (sixth wealthiest in the nation) and highly educated congressional district (top three nationally). Some seventy-five percent here have a college degree. The average household income here tops $125,000 per year, at least in Arlington, which comprises nearly 40 percent of the district and is similar to its neighboring communities of Alexandria and Falls Church. Average home values are just a hair under $500,000, even though a high percentage of residents here live in multi-unit housing.
So Don Beyer is OK with his wealthier constituents owning guns, but the rest of us? You’re on your own. It seems to be the Democratic mantra these days on every issue. Food? fuel prices? Rent? Bread? Is there no cake?
This is why we have a US Senate, the cooling saucer of democracy. Politically charged pols like Don Beyer can waste the time and effort of public employees in the House legislative counsel’s office - as many Members of Congress do - with bills written not to pass but to make a point. Meanwhile, we have a Senate looking at thoughtful, bipartisan efforts that could help prevent the next Ulvade or Buffalo. Don Beyer won’t be at the table when any final compromise is hatched if there is one.
I deserve better representation. I might show up to vote in the open Democratic primary on June 21st (we don’t register by party in Virginia) for Virasingh. I’d rather have an honest progressive on the ballot than a dishonest one.