Reps. Jeff Keicher, Joyce Mason team up to sponsor sales tax cut on gun safes

SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Jeff Keicher, R-Sycamore, is Chief Co-Sponsor of House Bill 316 filed by State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, to reduce the sales tax on gun safes and locks designed to secure firearms from the current 6.5% rate down to 1%.

According to a news release from Keicher’s office, the bill is currently pending in the House of Representatives.

“Republicans and Democrats need to work together more on common sense measures to keep families safe and reduce the prevalence of tragic incidents when young children get ahold of firearms stored in the home and inadvertently harm themselves or others,” Keicher said in a statement. “I am very pleased to be working with Rep. Mason to pass legislation that will make it more affordable for individuals and families to purchase a gun safe by cutting the sales tax rate to 1%.”

As the Primary Sponsor of the legislation, Rep. Mason emphasized the safety aspect of House Bill 316:

“Owning a gun can help residents feel better protected in their homes, but if firearms aren’t stored properly and treated with care, they can actually make households more dangerous,” said Mason in a statement. “Unintentional shooting deaths are significantly higher in states where gun safety equipment is used less often, and sadly, the majority of individuals who die in these incidents are children or young adults. These deaths are preventable, and promoting widespread use of gun safes and locks is a critical part of putting a stop to them. HB316 would make it more affordable for responsible gun owners to secure their firearms, leading to safer homes and fewer tragedies.”

To read the full text of House Bill 316, go to www.ilga.gov.

The bill is also currently co-sponsored by State Rep. Suzanne Ness, D-Carpentersville, and State Rep. Katie Stuart, D-Edwardsville.