@pamsowerwine @Stonekettle It's an interesting idea to think about, but I doubt a punitive tax would pass any legislative body.

If I were looking at ways to fund preventative measures, I would look at a tax on Firearms related products.

You could even use a tax on firearms to help fund further and more stringent checks / assessments in a licensing program.

I'd pay an extra 1% on a brick of shells if it helped reduce the number of deaths by firearm.