Think Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, produces mad scenes of rushing, eager shoppers looking for great deals for Christmas?
It could happen this week, on Friday, at sporting good stores that cater to hunting and shooting.
Mississippi’s now annual 2nd Amendment Tax-Free Weekend (Aug. 31-Sept. 2) falls funny on the calendar this year. It begins the day before the dove and other hunting seasons open.
That means that the best deal hunters are going to get on shotgun shells, bullets, guns and some accessories needed to hit the fields will be on Friday. Combine the 7-percent savings on state sales tax with store specials and the savings are significant enough ….
“… to make me hold off on buying the cases of 12- and 20-gauge dove loads my sons and I will need this weekend,” Ron Prince of Brandon said. “I dove hunt three times and my sons are with me on the weekends, and between us we can burn through some powder and pellets.
“Last year, I remember, I spent about $200 on the tax-free day just for shells, and counted it up and I had saved $100. I screwed up though; we ran out of shells by the start of the second season and I was back in there paying full price. That will not happen this week. I’m coming out fully loaded.”
All guns, bullets and shells are included, which means pistols are also sold without state sales tax.
Created by the 2014 legislature, the language includes “hunting supplies are the following items when used for hunting: archery equipment, firearm and archery cases, firearm and archery accessories, hearing protection, holsters, belts and slings. The sale of general hunting supplies are not exempt. Hunting supplies does not include animals used for hunting.”
Only items paid for during the weekend are included — no layaway-type purchases are tax exemp. Items that are ordered and paid for during the weekend and delivered after the weekend are tax-exempt.
For a list of tax-exempt and non-exempt equipment, visit: http://www.dor.ms.gov/Pages/Second-Amendment-Sales-Tax-Holiday.aspx.
