I am replying to the article, “Gun tax proposed in court safety plan” (BDN, March 3).

Rep. Deborah L. Pelletier-Simpson, D-Auburn, proposed to levy an additional 7 percent tax on all firearms and ammunition sold in Maine to the existing 5 percent state sales tax already in place. The stated purpose of this tax would be to use the money for increased courthouse security.

Whether we even need more security at our courthouses is a debatable question, but double-taxing hunters, shooters and gun collectors to pay for it is not the answer.

I am all of the above: hunter, shooter and gun collector, but I don’t use or threaten our courthouses. Why not tax all fines that are levied in court and use this money for increasing security. These are the people using the court system.

Also, why are we spending bond money with interest on screening machines that we don’t have the personnel to operate? It makes you wonder if all the upcoming bond issues have been well thought out by the governor and his staff.

Lastly, I strongly feel that this feel-good piece of legislation has much more to do with gun control than courthouse security.

Merle Cousins

Southwest Harbor