Guns and ammunition tax holiday supported by Georgia Senate

Republican state Sen. Jason Anavitarte of Dallas speaks to a House subcommittee on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022, at the capitol in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

A majority of Georgia’s senators want to let people buy guns, ammunition and gun safes without paying sales tax for five days each fall, while some House members are considering a narrower tax break for only gun safety devices.

Republicans favor both approaches, partly in an election-year nod to gun owners, but Democrats favor only tax breaks for safety devices.

The Senate voted 30-22 on Tuesday to approve Senate Bill 344, sending it to the House for more debate. Sen. Jason Anavitarte, the Dallas Republican who is sponsoring the measure, says the tax break would promote hunting and the control of Georgia’s deer population. The tax holiday would last for five days in October just before the beginning of deer hunting season.