Maryland state lawmakers are exploring ways to help fund the state’s trauma system, including imposing a new tax.
The Comprehensive Community Safety Funding Act (Senate Bill 784) is an idea that’s gaining momentum. It would impose an 11% excise tax on gross receipts from companies that make firearms, ammunition and gun accessories, as well as gun shop owners and dealers. The legislation doesn’t directly tax consumers.
The proposed new funding source targets an industry that Maryland’s Democratic lawmakers believe is responsible for what they cited as a double-digit increase in gun violence that’s taxing the state’s trauma system. According to state health officials, Shock Trauma in Baltimore treats 1,000 victims of violence each year, 600 of those patients suffer gunshot wounds.
“What we have seen is a dramatic increase in the number of firearm injuries going to Shock Trauma and to the trauma system across the state. So, as those costs increase for the trauma system, then we have to cover it,” said Senate President Bill Ferguson, D-District 46.
Officials said $9 million of the revenue generated would go toward Maryland’s trauma system.
“So, I would ask, how much is a life worth?” said Dr. Thomas Scalea, Shock Trauma’s physician-in-chief.
The bill’s sponsor, Anne Arundel County Sen. Sarah Elfreth, D-District 30, said the legislation is intended “to ensure that if someone is (flown) to a trauma center, that our system has the resources it needs to save lives.”
“Not only are there more trauma cases, being able to hire the medical staff to do the work has become increasingly difficult,” said Senate Budget and Taxation Committee Chairman Guy Guzzone, D-District 13.
According to the bill’s language, here’s how the funding would be dispersed:
– 44% of the money generated would go to the Maryland Trauma Physician Services Fund
– 29% would go to Shock Trauma in Baltimore
– 23% is earmarked for the Violence Intervention and Prevention Program
– 2% would go to the Survivors of Homicide Victims Grant Program
– 2% would go to the Center for Firearm Violence Prevention and Intervention within the Maryland Department of Health
Some people with whom 11 News spoke on Friday expressed support for the proposal.
“I think it is definitely a good way to raise money,” said Karrson Atwell, of Annapolis.
“That sounds reasonable. That makes sense to me,” said Allyson Brink, of Annapolis.
“They got to raise money somehow because they are going to close,” said Chris Hughes, a visitor to Maryland.
Others believe the bill unfairly targets gun owners.
“This bill tries to prevent people from owning guns by taxing them for buying guns,” said Sen. Chris West, R-District 42, whose district encompasses portions of Baltimore and Carroll counties. “If it were a broad tax, like a sales tax, that would be one thing. Everybody pays a sales tax. But this is a special tax imposed only on the privilege of buying guns.”
In the coming days, lawmakers plan to introduce more revenue-generating bills, including a proposal to increase vehicle registration fees to help fund the state’s trauma system.
