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.
