A newly-christened bill in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, has now implemented a regulation that imposes a steep $1,000 per pistol tax.
They call it the SAFE Act (Special Act for Firearms Enforcement). The CNMI already bans handguns and rifles in calibers larger than .223, which is most commonly used as a varmint round. But perhaps most disturbing was the fact legislators in the CNMI were plainly lamenting within the text of the law the fact they were bound to the Second Amendment, writing, "Unfortunately, on March 28, 2016, the United States District Court for the District of the Northern Mariana Islands held that the Second Amendment applies to the Commonwealth."
Gov. Ralph Torres -- who identifies as a Republican and has even backed Donald Trump -- claims the new tax should serve as a “role model” to the mainland states, emphasizing a priority on the “safety of law enforcement and the community.”
“It’s something that none of us want and we want to make it as strict as possible," Torres said in a statement.
Despite the bill's controversial nature, Rep. Angel Demapan, who also identifies as a Republican, said the implementation of “safeguards” was “necessary.”
“We aren’t trying to make it difficult for people, we are trying to make it safe,” Demapan said.
The bill comes despite a 2015 poll showing a majority of Americans think more concealed carry weapons would make the United States safer. A 2014 poll revealed more than six in 10 Americans say guns make homes safer.