Burlington Vermont Trying to Regulate Firearms Despite State Law Prohibition

[BobFromBucks]

Vermont's state motto is "Freedom and Unity." However, if a group of anti-gun activists has their way, the Second Amendment and Vermont State law will be swept away.

BURLINGTON, Vt. -
The debate over gun laws is taking center stage in Burlington.

The City Council is considering a number of new restrictions.

The proposals would outlaw carrying a concealed weapon, ban weapons from bars and require gun owners to lock up their weapons.

Only one resolution failed, but the rest are likely to face tighter votes in the future.

State law prevents cities from regulating firearms, however that is what Burlington's City Council hopes to do.

Residents filled City Hall with competing colors: green in favor of the proposed restrictions and hunter orange against it.

"I understand how polarizing this is and how important it is to so many people, but what we're really talking about here is a public health crisis," said Bob Duncan, who favors restrictions.

"The city of Burlington doesn't have a gun problem, it has a crime problem. When seconds count, cops are only a minute away," said Eric Bailey, who opposes the measures.

The council approved barring firearms from bars, a locked storage requirement and a measure giving police the authority to temporarily confiscate weapons in suspected domestic violence cases.

Republican Councilor Paul Decelles did not support any of the measures.

Only hours before the votes, Mayor Miro Weinberger expressed his concern with requiring permits for concealed carry and the majority agreed.

"I feel strongly against all of this - even the one with guns in bars - not so much that it's that bad of an idea but it sets a precedence," said Ian Galbraith, a gun restriction opponent.

Marie Adams supports the new measures.

"We have to address all these things and in order to do that we have to try to keep guns out of the wrong hands and that's what these measures do," Adams said.

Before the proposals become law, voters will need to give their approval on town meeting day, as will the state Legislature.

The state Legislature shot down gun reforms last year. Currently, it is unclear how the Legislature will react to Burlington's proposal if it makes it that far.

Governor Peter Shumlin has said reform should be pursued at the national level, but declined to comment on the Queen City's efforts.

A measure banning assault weapons previously under consideration in Burlington did not go before the full council.

http://www.wcax.com/story/23753753/b...n-restrictions

[justashooter]

living in maine i meet people from NH and VT that complain about the massholers moving into NH and VT and taking over local politics. i suppose this is just one more example of criminal types bring their crime out to the country with them.

[streaker69]

living in maine i meet people from NH and VT that complain about the massholers moving into NH and VT and taking over local politics. i suppose this is just one more example of criminal types bring their crime out to the country with them.

I'll share an email about this topic from a good friend that's lived in VT all his life.

Despite the "old Yankee Republican conservative" image of Vermont, most of the state is controlled by a Democratic machine, and has been since the mid-1970's. Bunch of hippies moved up here in the '70's and essentially took over the place.

Burlington political stance makes San Francisco's look tame and conservative. For the last 30 years, with the exemption of two single-term mayors, Burlington's politics have been dominated by the "Progressive Party". The Progressives tend to think Karl Marx was a beginner, Lenin a failed Marxist, and Mao Tse Tsung should have shot more conservatives. They're all socialists when you get down to it.

In some ways it's pretty amazing that they haven't passed really strict guns laws here. However, the pro-hunting groups are really active here, and gun violence is pretty low, so they don't have much of a chance.

Burlington has had a CCW permit for years. Everyone ignores it, just like the ignore all city/town ordinances in the state, aside from parking fines. City ordinances are misdemeanors by state statute, carry a maximum penalty of a $25 fine, and the city has to hire their attorney to prosecute, because the State's Attorney (what you'd call a DA), CAN'T prosecute it. (Again, by state statute.) People actually pay parking fines, because they can tow your car, and the private tow fee and private impoundment fee cost you about $100+.

Anyway, the only thing this will do is be another law on the books that get's ignored. The Dems and the Progs have made another valiant attempt to protect the children against senseless gun violence, get to make speeches about how they have made another valiant attempt to protect the children against senseless gun violence , and may even get a sound bite on TV about how they made another valiant attempt to protect the children against senseless gun violence.

In the meantime, they conveniently ignore that the real issue has to do with mental health, and won't do anything to curtail the crazies, because , hey, those people aren't dangerous, they're just sick. (Until they are dangerous. Then, it's too late, and you get to blame the gun lobby.)

Besides, I live outside of Burlington. This town is liberal enough. Why would I move there?

[Pilot321]

living in maine i meet people from NH and VT that complain about the massholers moving into NH and VT and taking over local politics. i suppose this is just one more example of criminal types bring their crime out to the country with them.

Burlington has always been very liberal as it is the home of the University of Vermont, but yes the massholers are trying to ruin VT, and NH, just like people from New York, and New Jersey are trying to ruin PA.

[sigsauer357]

What are shame. VT and NH are beautiful states. In 100 years cancer will spread to the entire 50 states. Surprise they're not bitching about no permit required in VT

[ShooterInPA1]

There must be a lot of shootouts in bars from legally carrying citizens in VT. There aren't you say?

[ShooterInPA1]

What are shame. VT and NH are beautiful states. In 100 years cancer will spread to the entire 50 states. Surprise they're not bitching about no permit required in VT

Four charter changes were at issue: The first would ban guns from any establishment with a liquor license; another would require police to seize firearms after domestic abuse incidents, a third requires “safe storage” of firearms, and the final change requires a permit for carrying concealed firearms.


http://forum.pafoa.org/national-11/2...ington-vt.html