Shooting Range Bans Police Department In Protest Of City Council Gun Bill

BURLINGTON, Vt. (CBS Connecticut) — A gun range has banned a Vermont police department from training there in protest to the city council drafting legislation to ban assault-style firearms.

The Stowe Reporter reports that the Lamoille Valley Fish and Game Club decided to ban the Burlington Police Department because the executive board feels that the Burlington City Council wants to take away their Second Amendment rights.

We “can no longer support the City of Burlington with such a prejudice against our club and its members, and has voted to suspend the City’s use of our range for its law enforcement. This action is effective immediately,” Robert Boivin, chairman of the club’s executive board, wrote in a letter, according to the Reporter.

Boivin tells the paper that this is not a “bullying tactic” because the club has let the police department train for free at the range for the past couple of years.

“We felt our rights were being infringed upon,” Boivin told the Reporter.

The Burlington Police Department told WPTZ-TV in a statement that this is an unfortunate incident.

“It is unfortunate that this important and much-needed community dialogue regarding gun control currently under way in the city of Burlington and across the nation has resulted in this action,” Deputy Chief Andy Higbee told the station.

WPTZ-TV reports the police department will currently train at the Ethan Allen Firing Range.

The city council’s bill to ban assault-style firearms and large-capacity magazines requires approval by the Vermont Legislature and the measure won’t reach voters until March 2014.

http://connecticut.cbslocal.com/2013...ncil-gun-bill/