The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Editorials

March 18, 2010

Shameful

Gov. Joe Manchin says legislative passage of a bill waiving the 6 percent sales tax on the purchase of guns and ammunition during the first weekend each October — on the final night of the session, no less — “gives me heartburn. That’s pure heartburn.”

“I can’t look at children in the eye, and struggling families in the eye, and all these people in the eye and say, ‘I’m sorry we couldn’t help you, but, by God, if you want to buy a gun, we can really take care of you,” the governor added.

This legislative stunt should give everyone heartburn. In fact, it should make them sick.

How in the world, at a time when spending cuts are ordered to balance the state budget, when business is pleading for tax relief to make it more competitive with border states, when people on fixed incomes are in a state of shock over rising utility bills and other costs, can 96 members of the House of Delegates and 25 in the state Senate justify a sales tax holiday that targets a specific group?

They can’t.

The measure is called The Second Amendment Appreciation Act.

It’s one thing to be pro-Second Amendment. It’s another thing, on the final night of the legislative session, for those facing tough re-election battles to try and score political points.

Which is what this was all about. If an elected official wants to engage in political maneuvering, let him or her do so on the campaign trail, at his or her own expense. Don’t waste the taxpayers’ time and money.

Manchin said he wasn’t even aware the legislation was being considered until after it had been passed.

“I don’t know where it came from,” he said.

And to think that this piece of legislation — a political gimmick — surfaced and was passed just hours after parts of West Virginia were devastated by flooding. Manchin himself had spent part of Saturday assessing the severe flood damage in Raleigh County, where one woman was killed and a brave volunteer firefighter was swept away while performing a rescue mission.

And this is what greeted him upon his return to Charleston.

Shameful.

The governor should veto this ridiculous bill — promptly.

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