I’ve written before about the paradox of Vermont being a deep, deep blue state, yet when it comes to gun control, in Vermont it has meant a steady aim on the target.
But of course democrats in Vermont can’t stand idly by and watch our sister blue states Massachusetts and Connecticut slap restrictions on law abiding people and gun owners.
A group called “Gun Sense Vermont” is pushing for Universal background checks before anyone can purchase a firearm.
Gun Sense President Ann Braden said “Vermont’s current laws are simply not doing enough to protect Vermonters”.
I believe most Vermonters are able to protect themselves.
From the Times Argus
Putney Rep. Mike Mrowicki called Vermont “a place of great hope” as he called for action.
“I’m here to hold on to that hope and also hold out that hope to you. It may not be today or this year or next year, but we are going to pass this bill,” Mrowicki said. “Hopefully, that will happen before the next shooting of the week comes to Vermont. We will get these common-sense laws that reflect life in the 21st century and common sense and the common good.”
Mrowicki acknowledged that Vermont is a safer state than most. But he pointed to the 2015 slaying of a state social worker and the scourge of drugs as reasons to try and prevent guns from falling into the hands of those who should not have them.
“I can’t guarantee any law will work 100 percent of the time, but I can share that if this bill saves even one life, it is worth it, especially if that’s the life of a child and more so if that child is mine or yours,” he said.
Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive and Democrat, reiterated his support for universal background checks as he called for civility and understanding in the continuing debate.
Lt. Gov. Zuckerman is patiently waiting his turn.
But maybe for the sake of argument universal background checks would be a good thing.
After all the State is in the middle of a drug scourge. And Vermont is becoming more diverse. More African-Americans and middle eastern refugees are coming to the state.
Is this the reason for wanting background checks?
Background checks, sounds so benign. But Progressives must progress.
In my opinion I thought that gun control would be the 3rd rail of Vermont politics. So far it is for now. Even Libs who live on back country roads know that there are critters out there, both the four and two legged kind that may require maximum resistance. Especially when law enforcement may be a long way off.
A New York Man and his Son at their summer place in Vt. once had a visit from the infamous boys from Chelsea .
He showed them his Glock. They ran away. Later dug graves were found in the back of the building. Meant for the Man and his Son.
Thankfully not all Vermont democrats have lost their independence .
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Sears, D-Bennington, said he sees only a “slim” chance that a universal background checks bill will become law. The conditions that scuttled it two years ago, including his own opposition, remain in place, he said.
“I don’t see any difference. The fact remains that Vermont, according to the FBI, is the safest state in the nation in terms of violent crime. We have a lot of problems that we have to deal with in Vermont on a criminal justice basis, and I think that preventing violence is one of the most important things we could do, and I’m not sure that this bill would do that,” Sears said. “My committee is still made up of the same five members that we had two years ago, and there are at least three votes in the committee against it, including my own.”
Vermont is unique in one way, a pro 2nd Amendment blue state. For now. At least until it’s Zuck’s turn.