California: Excise Tax Legislation to Be Heard by Committee Ammoland Inc. Posted on IMG NRA-ILA th, the Assembly Appropriations Committee will hear Assembly Bills 1223, 1237, and 1509. Please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE these anti-gun bills. Assembly Bill 1223 places an excise tax of 10% on the sales price of a handgun, and places an 11% excise tax on the sales price on all long guns, rifles, firearm precursor parts and ammunition to fund grants awarded through the Cal VIP program. The taxes are to be collected from California retailers on new firearms sold, and on their retail sales of ammunition. It is unjust to saddle law-abiding gun owners with special taxes to fund social service programs. Such a measure makes it more expensive for law-abiding citizens to exercise a constitutional right, and discourages them from practicing to be safe and proficient with their firearms for purposes such as self-defense, competition, and hunting.