Following the lead of New York’s new gun ban, a number of states have introduced similar legislation. Vermont (a constitutional carry state) was one of them, but apparently due to extreme pressure from vocal citizens, their legislature has pulled the bill from consideration. For now . . .

From WCAX:

Less than a week after proposing a gun control bill that would have banned assault weapons and high-capacity magazines statewide, Vermont’s Senate majority leader says he now plans to withdraw the bill.

Sen. Philip Baruth, D-Chittenden County, says there’s not enough support among his colleagues for the bill and there’s mounting opposition from outside the Statehouse.

Especially moving were the Senator’s words on the matter.

“But it is painfully clear to me now that little support exists in the Vermont Statehouse for this sort of bill. It’s equally clear that focusing the debate on the banning of a certain class of weapons may already be overshadowing measures with greater consensus, like tightening background checks, stopping the exchange of guns for drugs, and closing gun show loopholes. Finally, as incoming Majority Leader, I owe it to my caucus to remove an issue that seems increasingly likely to complicate our shared agenda this biennium.

“To the many responsible gun-owners with whom I’ve communicated over the last several weeks: I’ve heard you. Please hear me when I say that government is not your enemy – we are all alike threatened by the kind of violence we saw in Newtown, violence that is clearly spreading. And all of us are responsible for stopping it. It’s my hope that with this ban set aside, you’ll join more willingly in that effort.”

Huh. Looks like a grassroots movement to make the voices of the millions of legal gun owners heard can work. Occasionally.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gfWxh5B1aE

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48 COMMENTS

  1. Thank focking god. It’s a little kept secret that Vermont is one of the freest gun states there is (the one state that has never had a CC license), I’m glad they kept it that way.

  3. My keenest wish for 2013 is that whatever has infected the VT legislature is massively contagious and rapidly propagates through the US.

    Not gonna happen, I know, but I can dream…

  4. Congradulations Vermont!

    Awesome use of a movie quote. I saw Independance Day close to 15 times in the theater.

  6. “violence that is clearly spreading”
    — I’m not sure he has a grasp of the details about mass shootings, gun free zones, and the overall declining violent crime rate.

    My favorite gun in the photo above is the one on the far right.

  7. “To the many responsible gun-owners with whom I’ve communicated over the last several weeks: I’ve heard you. Please hear me when I say that government is not your enemy – we are all alike threatened by the kind of violence we saw in Newtown, violence that is clearly spreading.

    Lie lie lie lie lie.

    • Some folks in government actually believe this, and work harf towards that end. I know that doesn’t fit the anti-gov orthodoxy of many ’round these parts, but there are good folks in government.

      Just not nearly enough of them…

      • When his statement is filled with two blatant lies I don’t care if he has good intentions. He’s a damned liar.

        1. This violence isn’t becoming more commonplace.
        2. We’re not all threatened by that kind of violence.

        I’ll also add a third:

        3. He’s part of the government and wanted to restrict your rights, then claims the government is not your enemy. Put enough of people like him in power and it certainly will be. See: New York.

  8. There’s a flip side to this argument. Vermont, as Blinky said “one of the freest states in the nation,” barely escaped being swept up into stupidity in this latest wave. The lesson is, if it can be that close in “one of the freest states in the nation,” that is a demonstration of how tough a fight it needs to be everywhere else.

    • I guess there should have been an asterisk there, in that Vermont, or likely any of the three Northern New England states, while gun friendly, are probably more susceptible to buying into gun related hysteria than say, Texas, Kentucky, or Wyoming.

      That said, excellent point. We need to be vigilant on all fronts here.

      • Well it was, but then there was a passive-aggressive takeover by Massholes and NYers. Same thing in New Hampshire, except only Massholes.

      • Ralph – What an obtuse and ignorant point of view.

        Anon – Vermont’s native politics are complicated. The range from ultra liberal to ultra conservative, and the only real outside influence comes from the college towns. Beyond that the influx has been fairly minimal. New Hampshire, on the other hand, has always been fairly moderate, leaning on the conservative side. You’re right, though, that “mass holes” have been moving there, but it ain’t the liberals. Look at any political heat map and you’ll find the native north is blue, and the immigrant south is red.

        • Blinky +1

          As a current NH resident and former Masshole who is a socially moderate and fiscally conservative Liberterian registered independent voter, I am continually mystified by NH’s blue voting death spiral. I don’t understand why any of my neighbors vote for Obama. If NH keeps voting like is, we will vote The Live Free or Die state into extinction as a place where there is no sales tax, no income tax, and where individual rights are not only valued but are protected vigorously.

  9. Don’t celebrate too much. They are just retrenching. He still wants to close the “gun show loophole”, whatever that is. Meaning no private sales without an FFL and the likely associated recording of who owns what.

    • It would not need an FFL however the proper forms would be required. We have never had a so call mis-named “gun show loophole” in CT. It is a ban of private sale of weapons without documentation.

      In CT we fill out the paperwork and call the central state name for a sales authorization #. You put the number on the paper work and your done. It takes all of 15min and is free.

      • Very interested in that. How much information goes on the form? I assume it’s tied to a statewide registry of all firearm ownership, or at least as close as they can get.

        • Pretty much. I’ve never bought a used firearm, but everything bought new is definitely recorded at state and local level. Happily our local cops are pretty good guys, and actually went out of their way to help us with our pistol permit application. And I’ve got a great, and inexpensive, local FFL guy.

    • The only “gun show loophole” that was specific to guns shows I can even vaguely remember had to do with waiving the initial Brady waiting period for handguns at gun shows. This loophole closed with the start of NICS.

  10. CONGRATULATIONS VERMONT!!!

    New Yorkers, isn’t Vermont right next door? It doesn’t look like you guys have many places close to which you guys could move.

    • It is right next door! Moving there would only add twenty minutes to my daily commute. Problem Solved.

  11. If they passed the ban I was going to stop buying Vermont Maple Syrup. My pancakes and sausage will continue to be happy.

  12. Don’t stop writing. Don’t stop the phone calls. A retreat is performed to trade land for time. That is exactly what the confiscation crew is attempting. Keep sending them the facts about the 50% reduction in crime. The amidst the noise video might be good to send to this guy.

  17. What happened to the New York proposed legislation story? It was there and then the link didn’t work, and then it was gone.

    • I’m stunned to find that silencers are indeed technically illegal there, but it’s only a $25 fine. That still means you couldn’t register it, which is a no-no.

      Machine guns are all good… as long as they’re registered with the ATF you’re good.

  19. Ha ha. You can see the sadness (and fear about losing seats) in these liberals. May the tide turn more quickly on the great gun grabbing scheme of late 2012-2013.

  20. I was really proud of my state and the responses that were sent in saying we do not want this. Glad they listened. Proud to be a Vermonter.

  21. As a proud VTer, I am always heartened to hear that Vermont still leads the way in most areas. Unfortunately, I live in Washington. Vermont legislature-Keep listening to your bosses (Vermonters).

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