NEWTOWN, Conn.—The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the trade association for the firearms and ammunition industry, joined forces with the National Rifle Association, the Second Amendment Foundation, Seattle-based retailers and gun owners in filing a lawsuit today in King County Superior Court challenging the City of Seattle’s recently approved sales tax of $25 on each firearm sold and five cents for each round of ammunition (two cents for .22 caliber).

NSSF and other pro-gun groups fought the city ordinance, labeled a “gun violence tax,” but the City Council nevertheless approved the measure on Aug. 10 and Mayor Ed Murray signed it last week.

“NSSF has no alternative but to be an active party in this lawsuit against the City of Seattle’s attempt to interfere in the lawful commerce in firearms and ammunition on the grounds that it violates Washington State’s preemption statute that blocks cities from regulating the sale of firearms on their own.” said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. “The Seattle ordinance is nothing but a ‘poll tax’ on the Second Amendment and an effort to drive Seattle’s firearms retailers out of business.” Read more

They were billed as a centerpiece of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s 2013 SAFE Act, but in a default victory for New York gun owners, the National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that background checks for New York ammunition purchases have been scrapped.

An agreement between Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan and Director of Operations Jim Lamatras on Friday suspends this section of the SAFE Act. The agreement goes on to stipulate that no state money will be used to implement the database, meaning the ban on internet sales of ammunition is also discontinued. The New York State Police also acknowledged there is a “lack of technology” for supporting the database.