Tax holiday OK for guns, not so for storm and school supplies says Senate committee

A Louisiana Senate Committee spared a sales tax holiday for guns and hunting equipment -- including off-road vehicles -- while supporting the elimination of similar exemptions for hurricane equipment and school supplies next year.

The Louisiana Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs voted 7-2* to the Second Amendment sales tax holiday during the first weekend in September. The measure eliminates the sales tax on all hunting equipment -- including firearms, ammunition, clothing, knives, ATVs and tree stands -- during a three-day period.

At the same time, the committee signed off on doing away with similar sales tax holidays aimed at back-to-school purchases in early August and hurricane preparedness supplies next May.

"It very hard for me to justify that we provide an exemption for guns, but not for hurricane equipment," said state Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, a committee member who voted against the change.

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/06/louisiana_sales_tax_holiday_re.html