To: The United States Senate
Mental Health Tax on Gun Sales
Based on the model of excise taxes placed on cigarettes, gun sales should be taxed to fund mental health services for children and their families. Services to be funded would include mental health services including parenting and mental health therapy for children and families.
Why is this important?
With the recent tragic events at Sandy Hook Elementary, it becomes clear that mental health issues in our country are integrally involved in mass shootings around our country. It is appropriate that an excise tax on gun sales be put into place in order to fund mental health programs that will be in place in early childhood to assist parents in parenting and obtaining mental health services for their children. A sales tax, similar to that imposed on cigarette sales, would provide much needed funding for mental health services.