Editor's note: The following opinion reflects the position of the Kalamazoo Gazette Editorial Board.

Political pandering is nothing new.

But every once in a while a politician comes along with an idea that is so obvious in its blatant attempt to curry favor that it doesn't pass the laugh test.

Such is the case with new legislation proposed by state Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker, R-Lawton.

Schuitmaker is proposing to eliminate the state sales tax from purchases of gun locks and gun safes.

Calling it "common-sense legislation," she said dropping the sales tax from such purchases would promote safety.

"Locked firearms don't fall into the hands of criminals or put innocent people at the risk of unintentional injury," she said in announcing her intent to introduce the legislation.

Who doesn't support safety, right?

Well, if the senator is so concerned about the safety of Michigan's citizens, there is a laundry list of items we would put ahead of gun locks to exempt from sales tax.

How about car seats for babies? Or smoke detectors? Bike helmets? Brake pads? Life vests? Snow tires? We could go on.

To be clear, we wouldn't support exempting any of those purchases from the state's 6 percent sales tax.

Punching exemptions into the tax code for the benefit of narrow special interests is not good for Michigan.

And let there be no doubt, Schuitmaker's legislation is all about special interests.

After the obligatory comment about promoting safety in her news release announcing the legislation, she continues on with this sop to the gun industry: "Our Second Amendment provides a fundamental right to all law-abiding citizens to own a firearm. We can honor that right and promote responsible gun ownership practices by adopting this legislation."

We have a better idea: Let's honor the Constitution by paying our fair share of taxes.

Furthermore, Schuitmaker provides no evidence that Michigan's sales tax has created a barrier that prevented a responsible gun owner from safely locking up a weapon. The sales tax on a $500 gun safe is $30. For a $25 gun lock, it is $1.50.

As MLive commenter livcounty wrote: "If you can't afford to keep your gun safe, then I guess you can't really afford to have that gun."

Now that's common sense.

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