Consider a sales tax

When we consider firearms and pertaining U.S. law, we might picture a colonial settler in a cabin at night. A stout door, shuttered windows, and a gun by the bunk.

Hunting was common. There was no effort to control the weapons of the time. There were surely unbalanced men who used guns to harm innocent people, but they would have a single shot, rarely two, before pausing to change weapons or for reloading.

It’s obvious that the powerful and rapid-firing guns of today are different matters than the muskets of yore, having maybe 15 times the bullet capacity of the old rifles and reloading of another 15 being quick and easy. Sane persons know that, at least, youths, criminals, and unbalanced folks shouldn’t own these things.

Until the servants of the NRA, Republican politicians, decide to end the civilian arms race by banning these weapons, I think they should apply a hefty sales tax to their purchase, say 100 percent. Same for the ammo. Governments always need money, and a high tax might cool the lust for these things, as well as provide funds to pay for victims’ funerals and medical expenses. A special sales tax for these weapons would show that the governments, gun sellers, and gun buyers could accept some responsibility for the bloody carnage the lightly regulated arms industry enables. And if the carnage worsens, raise the tax. GARY BRODNAX

Fayetteville