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The Maryland General Assembly is exploring ways to help fund the state’s trauma system, including introducing new taxes.
The Omnibus Community Safety Fund Act (Senate Bill 784) is an idea that is gaining momentum. The measure would impose an 11% excise tax on gross receipts from companies that manufacture firearms, ammunition and gun accessories, as well as gun store owners and dealers. This law does not impose a direct tax on consumers.
A proposed new funding source targets an industry that Maryland Democratic lawmakers believe is responsible for a double-digit increase in gun violence that is straining the state’s trauma system. . Shock Trauma in Baltimore treats 1,000 victims of violence each year, 600 of whom have gunshot wounds, according to state health officials.
“What we’ve seen is a dramatic increase in the number of firearm injuries that are being sent to shock trauma and trauma systems across the state. So as the cost of trauma systems increases, , we have to cover it,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-District 46.
Officials said $9 million of the proceeds will be donated to Maryland’s trauma system.
“So, I would ask, how much is life worth?” said Dr. Thomas Scalea, Shock and Trauma’s attending physician.
The bill’s sponsor, Anne Arundel County Sen. Sarah Elfreth (D-30th District), said the bill’s goal is to “make sure that if someone is taken to a trauma center, our system will save lives. “We need to ensure that we have the resources necessary to do so.”
“Not only are trauma cases increasing, but it’s becoming increasingly difficult to hire medical staff and maintain health care workers,” said Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Chairman Guy Gazon, D-13th District. he said.
According to the text of the bill, the funds would be distributed as follows:
– 44% of proceeds will be donated to the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund
– 29% would go to Shock Trauma in Baltimore
– 23% allocated to violence intervention and prevention programs
– 2% will be donated to the Homicide Victim Survivor Grant Program
– 2% will go to the Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention Center within the Maryland Department of Health.
Several people 11 News spoke to on Friday expressed support for the proposal.
“I think it’s definitely a good way to raise money,” said Carlson Atwell of Annapolis.
“That sounds reasonable. That makes sense to me,” said Alison Brink of Annapolis.
“We had to find some way to raise money because we were closing,” said Chris Hughes, who was visiting Maryland.
Some believe the bill unfairly targets gun owners.
“This bill seeks to prevent people from owning guns by taxing them on gun purchases,” said Chris West, Republican of the 42nd District, which covers parts of Baltimore and Carroll counties. the senator said. “If it were a broad tax, like a sales tax, that would be a different story. Everyone pays sales tax. But it’s a special tax that’s only on the privilege of buying a gun.”
Lawmakers plan to introduce bills in the coming days that would generate additional revenue, including a proposal to increase vehicle registration fees to help fund the state’s trauma system.
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