MONTPELIER, Vt.—Speaking at a large pro-gun rally at the Vermont statehouse this week, state Sen. John Campbell told law-abiding Vermonters they would need to undergo criminal background checks before buying guns.
“The major issue in this bill people are concerned with is expanding the background checks to all sales,” Campbell said. “There are people—probably 99.9 percent of the people here—who think the federal background checks are all you need, you don’t need to have it between personal sales.”
via How Gun Owners Reacted to a Lawmaker’s Gun Control Pitch.
There must be an incredible violence spree in Vermont to be asking for UBCs, right?
Gun advocates estimate that more than 70 percent of Vermonters own firearms. And while the state arguably has the most liberal gun freedom of any state, FBI statistics indicate Vermont is the safest state in the nation, averaging 115 violent crimes per every 100,000 residents. About two gun-related killings occur in the Green Mountain State each year. Zero hunting accidents were reported in 2014.
As you can imagine, people did not react too well:
Erik Bailey, a resident of Jericho, declared that lawmakers who support Campbell’s gun-control bill would be serving their last term in the Legislature. The comment received cheers and thunderous applause.
“I’m giving them fair warning to polish their resumes because they’re going to need new jobs,” he said.
And at least one government branch might have seen the light:
I know many of you came today to talk with lawmakers about proposals to put additional restrictions on gun ownership in Vermont. … While I am and will remain willing to discuss any proposals on this or any other matters with lawmakers, I believe the gun laws Vermont has in place now serve us well and I do not think we need additional laws. (Letter from Gov. Peter Shumlin)
That any politician in Vermont would be so disconnected as to try to impose Gun Control laws in such a safe place tells you a lot about where the allegiance of such animals actually lay and it is not with The People.