SB784 proposed increasing the sales-and-use tax on firearms, firearm accessories, and ammunition from 6% to 11%. The additional revenue was intended to fund various public health and safety programs, including the Trauma Physicians Services Fund, which supports medical care by trauma physicians, especially for Medicaid-enrolled patients.

The Maryland State Senate passed SB784 on March 8, 2024 by a vote of 28 to 17. We have assigned pluses to the nays because this bill attacks the Second Amendment and seeks to expand unconstitutional, socialist, and federal programs such as Medicaid. Targeted taxation on firearms is an unconstitutional infringement intended to discourage gun ownership. Additionally, using this tax revenue to fund unrelated public programs further expands government overreach. The right to self-defense should not be burdened with financial penalties, violating our God-given constitutional rights.