Louisiana's only sales tax holiday promotes Second Amendment, gun sales

Louisiana's only sales tax holiday celebrates Second Amendment and gun ownership this weekend with a tax break for consumers and a sales spike for retailers.

Other sales tax holiday suspensions like back to school and hurricane preparedness remain in place until 2025, when all of the exemptions will be reconsidered. Louisiana faces a $300 million budget deficit in 2025.

Republican West Monroe Sen. Stewart Cathey was able to lift the suspension on the Second Amendment holiday in 2023 with Senate Bill 56.

The Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday suspends both local and state taxes for firearms, ammunition and hunting supplies Friday, Sept. 6, Saturday, Sept. 7 and Sunday, Sept. 8.

Cathey's law exempts sales tax on everything from guns to archery equipment to apparel to firearms to deer corn. The exemptions don't include off-road vehicles, ATVs and boats.

Most consumers can save 10% or more on state and local sales taxes during the holiday.

"The feedback I've gotten from retailers and consumers has been nothing but positive," Cathey told USA Today Network Thursday. "Jeff Simmons (owners of Simmons Sporting Goods in Batrop) told me he had people come all the way from Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas during last year's Second Amendment holiday."

Richie McKinney, who owns McKinney Outdoor Superstore in Ruston, said the reinstatement of the holiday last year drove sales increases.

"We're very glad it's back; it's our biggest weekend of the year," McKinney said.

The Legislature suspended the annual sales tax holidays in 2018 because of budget concerns. The Second Amendment Holiday is estimated to cost the state about $1.3 million in annual revenue. Local tax revenue losses will vary.

An estimated 53.1% of adults in the Louisiana have guns at home, the 13th highest level among states, according to Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, which measures only licensed weapons.

Republican Columbia state Rep. Neil Riser, a co-author, carried Cathey's bill in the House.

"I've been trying to get these sales tax holidays reinstated for years," Riser said. "These bills are tax relief for everyone."

Cathey said he believes the sales tax increases from other retail sales like restaurants and gas make up for the lost tax revenue during the Second Amendment holiday.

"I'm going to fight to keep the Second Amendment Sales Tax Holiday when we revisit the debate again next year," Cathey said.

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Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Louisiana's only sales tax holiday promotes Second Amendment, gun sales