[ancient_geezer]

Of course there is the fact that any attempt to play such games in a broadbased retail sales tax, requires the government to either forgo taxes,(i.e. a taxcut), or to increase the rates for everyone on everything they do tax to make up the difference.

The latter not being a particuarly attractive thing to do, to negatively impact a majority of voters at the risk of a politician's encumbency.

[Myrddin]

I think the anti-gunners would slap a 50% tax on all guns and ammo without even flinching. The sheeple would be powerless to do anything about it. If you doubt that, then simply take a look at how many anti-gun laws have been successfully overturned. You can count the successes on the fingers of one hand.