Illinois State Representative Travis Weaver announced on March 20 that a new bill under consideration would require firearms owners in Illinois to pay a tax on each round of ammunition and register every round with a serial number. The proposed legislation, House Bill 4414, is currently assigned to the House Judiciary-Criminal Committee.
The bill has raised concerns among some lawmakers who say it could negatively impact responsible gun owners and hunters. Weaver said, “My colleagues in the majority party are pushing legislation that hurts responsible hunters and firearms owners. The legislation, if passed, would require Illinois firearms owners to pay a tax per round of ammunition. In addition, there will be a new requirement that each round of ammunition be registered with a serial number, making the rounds more expensive.”
Weaver also questioned the effectiveness of the measure in addressing gun violence. “Illinois Democrats claim to want to remove dangerous guns off the streets, but when they push legislation like this, it shows they’re really focused on removing our Second Amendment rights,” he said.
He highlighted how such policies might affect individuals who use firearms for self-defense or recreation. “Consider the single woman who lives alone who owns a small pistol and does target practice so she can protect herself if necessary. People who steal guns and ammo will pay no tax increase, while responsible women like her will be penalized,” Weaver said.
Weaver encouraged constituents to file witness slips online in opposition to HB 4414 by visiting https://ilga.gov/. Weaver was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois’ 93rd House District in 2023, succeeding Norine Hammond according to Ballotpedia.
The debate over HB 4414 reflects ongoing discussions about balancing public safety measures with constitutional rights related to firearm ownership.
