Friday, March 22, 2013

Last Night on VPT's Show "Report From Vermont" & U.S. Senate action needed...

Last night on the Vermont Public Show "Report From Vermont"
Senate Majority Leader Philip Baruth (D) Chittenden County,
was one of the panelist.  Senator Baruth was the sponsor of
S.32, the first gun control bill to emerge in Vermont this year.

Senator pulled S.32 due to the substantial public opposition.

When asked by a caller about gun control in Vermont the
senator said he withdraw S.32 from consideration because
he did not believe there was support for it in the Vermont State
House.  He also said he should have gotten more support
lined up for S.32 before he introduced it.

He also related that he thought Rep. Linda Waite-Simpson's
gun control bills had a much better chance of action.  It was
obvious he had wanted more action on her bills, 
 
Senator Baruth made the point of gun control hopefully being
in play, either later in this session and/or in the next session. 
 
Right now the battle is in the U.S. Senate.  Senator Feinstein
is not going to give up and there are other gun control bills
headed for the floor of the U.S. Senate, to which she can attach
her bill.   Action needed is right below.

TO ALL RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS
MAKE THESE PHONE CALLS!




SENATOR LEAHY – 1-800-642-3193
SENATOR SANDERS – 1-800-339-9834
SIMPLY STATE:
"NO MORE GUN LAWS"
"ENFORCE THE CURRENT GUN LAWS"


 
Clint Gray,
President
Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.
 
 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

TO ALL RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS



TO ALL RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS
 
 
MAKE THESE PHONE CALLS!




SENATOR LEAHY – 1-800-642-3193
 
SENATOR SANDERS – 1-800-339-9834
 
SIMPLY STATE:
 
 
"NO MORE GUN LAWS"
 
"ENFORCE THE CURRENT GUN LAWS"
 


Attached is a copy that you can print off and hand out to ALL RESPONSIBLE GUN OWNERS to make the calls.
Clint Gray,
President
Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.
 
Care Trak Northeast
 



Monday, March 18, 2013

Rutland Herald: People must lead on gun control (the real facts are before the article)

Here is what the law professor's opinion piece misses:
 
Assault rifles are automatic rifles with the capability for full automatic
fire and have been subjected to severe federal regulation since the
National Firearms Act of 1934. 
 
The Castleton State College poll was a biased poll with the questions
skewed to reach a result of supporting new gun control laws.  The CSC
poll was conducted drastically differently than national studies, like a
USA Today Gallop poll.  Hence, the CSC poll achieved an inaccurate
and biased result.
 
There have numerous problems with CSC polls, the least of which was
the poll on the Democratic Primary for Vermont Attorney General in
August of 2012.  Barely a week before the election CSC released a poll
showing incumbent William Sorrell with a commanding twenty (20) point
lead over T.J. Donovan.  Sorrell won by less than one (1) percent. 
 
The CSC polls have been subject to numerous complaints about their
accuracy and polling question technique bias.  So much so that John
Margolis ran a piece in vtdigger.org defending the CSC polls, including
the gun poll.  But, then Mr. Margolis had already used that same CSC
gun poll in a segment he had done for Vermont Public Television.
 
With regard to the use of the use of the inaccurate term "gun show
loophole" there is no such thing.  There is no exemption or exception
for gun shows in the federal statute regulating firearms sales.  Gun
sales are conducted under the exact same laws regardless of whether
the sale takes place in a gun shop or at a gun show. 

 
 
 
People must lead on gun control
March 18,2013
 
During the Vietnam War, a popular slogan among the war's opponents said, "If the people lead, the leaders will follow." That saying came to mind in January, when the media reported that state Sen. Philip Baruth, D-Chittenden, had withdrawn his gun-control bill for lack of support among his legislative colleagues. The bill would have prohibited the manufacture, possession, and transfer of semiautomatic assault rifles and large-capacity ammunition clips, and would have made it a crime to leave a firearm accessible to a child who then used it to injure or kill another person or commit a crime.

Comments made about the Baruth bill by several Democratic senators indicated they were not ready to lead in preventing gun violence in Vermont. One said he opposed gun control in Vermont because the state is rural and firearms are part of rural life. Since when are assault rifles with high-capacity ammunition clips necessary to rural life? The late Tunbridge farmer Fred Tuttle spoke wisely on this subject during his 1998 U.S. Senate campaign against Patrick Leahy. Tuttle's campaign was largely tongue-in-cheek (he voted for Leahy), but he hit the bull's eye on gun control by observing that the only guns a Vermonter needs are a deer rifle in hunting season and a shotgun for shooting woodchucks in the garden. He would have scoffed at the notion that a Vermonter needs an assault rifle to defend himself against his government in the freest country in the world.

So if Vermont's rural nature should guide its gun policies, banning assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines is perfectly compatible with life in the Green Mountains.

Another senator said he would have rejected the Baruth bill because he did not want the Senate to have a reactive approach to the December 2012 school shooting in Newtown. In light of Americans' refusal to be proactive on guns, though, by permanently banning assault rifles and the accompanying ammunition magazines long ago, what choice do we have other than to react to the continuing slaughter of our children? Besides, being reactive is not necessarily ineffective. For example, Australia's reaction to a 1996 shooting spree that left 35 people dead was to ban all automatic and semiautomatic weapons and institute background checks and waiting periods for gun purchases. The effect was dramatic; in the decade before 1996, Australia had experienced 11 mass shootings, but since changing its guns laws, Australia has had no mass shootings.

The premature death of Baruth's bill made me wonder why our political leaders in Vermont are unwilling to lead on the gun issue despite this state's historic political courage on issues ranging from slavery to gay rights, especially when the prospects for federal gun legislation are doubtful at best. Just as I had begun to despair, though, the Castleton Polling Institute released the results of its Feb. 21 poll. Among the respondents, all Vermonters, 75 percent support requiring background checks of persons who buy guns at gun shows, 66 percent support banning the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines, 61 percent support banning further sales of assault weapons, and 54 percent even support making the ownership of an assault rifle illegal.

To be sure, the Castleton poll found differences of opinion between Vermonters who own guns and their neighbors who do not, and between Democrats and Republicans.

Although gun owners are less supportive of all potential gun regulations, 71 percent favor background checks at gun shows, 82 percent back stricter reporting requirements for mental-health professionals relative to the national instant background check system (NICS), and 55 percent would even ban the sale of high-capacity ammunition magazines. Similarly, Republicans are less positive than Democrats about gun regulations, but 61 percent of Republicans support background checks at gun shows and 86 percent support requiring mental-health professionals to report to the NICS system patients whom they perceive to be potentially violent.

Thus, Vermonters are well ahead of their political leaders on gun control. If additional evidence of that was necessary, it arrived on Town Meeting Day, when several towns passed warrant articles banning assault weapons, requiring background checks for all gun purchases, and mandating criminal penalties for "straw purchasers," who buy guns for individuals who cannot legally do so.

Meanwhile, in Montpelier, several bills that, taken together, would accomplish all the goals of the Baruth bill except banning assault rifles, are languishing in committee. Although they do not address assault rifles, passing any of them would represent progress in combating gun violence in Vermont.

Unfortunately, none of them is likely to pass this year because of slow progress through the committee process and Gov. Shumlin's lack of enthusiasm for gun legislation. Still, as the Vietnam War showed, nothing moves politicians like a tsunami of public support. Now, as then, if the people lead, the leaders, eventually, will follow.



Brian Porto is a professor at Vermont Law School. He lives in Windsor.
 

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Please call U.S. Senator Leahy and Sanders


Crossover has passed and on Thursday the U.S. Senate Judiciary
Committee passed out several gun control bills, which will now go
to the U.S. Senate floor.  These bills passed 10-8, by a straight
party line vote.  U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has
related these bills to senate floor for action.
 
At this point, right now, we should focus our efforts on the U.S. Senate.
take up a campaign of calls to both Senators Leahy and Sanders.
Senator Patrick Leahy:    1-800-642-3193
Senator Bernie Sanders: 1-800-339-9834
A very simple polite message of: "No to new gun laws, enforce existing laws"
The antis are not going away in the state house but until there is some
movement we need to focus on our two senators.

Vermont Gun Control Politics on Vermont This Week

Crossover was yesterday and the political community and media in Vermont
is discussing the status of all proposed legislation but the gun control issue
has been one they have discussed as a huge issue this session.

Vermont Public Television has the show "Vermont This Week" in which the 
moderator Stewart Ledbetter has three members of the media as guests on
a panel to discuss political issues and events of the week. 

The show airs on Friday evenings at 7:30 PM  and is rebroadcast on Sunday
mornings at 11:30 AM on VPT Channel 33  (See video down below)
 
This week they closed with about 3 minutes on gun control in the Vermont
State House.  In recent months it was more likely they would open on gun
control legislation.   Notice how Mr. Ledbetter puts the count in the gun control
press conference at as high as 150 people.  The press said 100 on Wednesday,
put from the 50 or so who were there and it has jumped to a 150 by Friday.  By
next week the Vermont Press could be reporting a bigger turnout than Woodstock.

Vermont This Week

March 15, 2013

Sunday, March 17, at 11:30 a.m. on VPT

Stewart Ledbetter, Moderator; Tim McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine; Dave Gram, Associated Press; Alicia Freese, vtdigger.org; via Skype: Shap Smith, Speaker of the House

Crossover at the Statehouse; House readies package to combat opiates, methamphetamines; Senate panel approves migrant licenses; State Orders Moretown Landfill to Close; Pension Forfeiture Bill Clears Final Passage; Senate OKs Home Health Care Unions


On-demand video supported by

Vermont NEA

Friday, March 15, 2013

Crossover Day in the Vermont State House has passed...



To All,  
Evan and I left the Vermont State House late this afternoon after careful watching of the gun control and sportsmen bills that were introduced.  We are happy to report that the gun control bills that were introduced this year have had no movement.

Today was the important "Crossover Day".  Although it is unlikely these gun control bills could see action this year, it is not impossible.  However, we do feel there is very little danger in any gun control bill(s) passing both houses this year.

We are extremely proud of you.  You have done a tremendous job in holding the gun control bills at bay.  Evan and I want to thank you for taking our e-mails seriously.  We have tried very hard to keep you informed of the happenings at the State House.  We also appreciate you calling, sending e-mails to legislators, speaking to your own legislators and standing with us at the Pro-Gun Rally.  

Evan and I will continue to monitor the bills, very closely, of what is happening at the State House and keep you informed.  

Again, Thank you, be proud of what you all have accomplished.  Is it over? NO! We have to deal with the Federal level proposed bills, while we keep our eyes on the State level proposed bills.

Great Job!
Clint

Clint Gray,
President
Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.



Crossover Day in the Vermont State House has passed...

We left the Vermont State House late this
afternoon and none of the gun control bills
that have been introduced thus far have
had any movement this year. 

Today was Crossover Day, so though it is
not impossible that these gun bills could
see action this year, there is very little
danger that it could pass both houses
this year. Be proud, you have done well.

We will continue to very closely monitor
what is happening in the state house.
Below is a story from the Valley News that
gives an idea of the situation. 
----------------------------------------------------
Gun Control In Vermont: Not This Year

By Mark Davis

Valley News Staff Writer
Friday, March 15, 2013
(Published in print: Friday, March 15, 2013)

As Vermont lawmakers today mark the unofficial halfway point
in the legislative session, advocates have all but given up
hope that any gun control bills — even one that a state
senator dubbed the "least ambitious" gun law that could be
proposed — will be enacted this year.

The lack of action comes despite recent developments that
would seemingly bolster the case for gun control:

?  A recent poll from Castleton State College showed that 61
percent of Vermonters favored banning the sale of assault
weapons, 66 percent favored banning high capacity ammunition
clips, and 75 percent supported closing the so-called gun
show loophole.

?  A Town Meeting resolution urging lawmakers to pursue gun
control passed — by sometimes overwhelming margins — in 6 of
the 7 towns where it was proposed.

?  Even the United States Senate, maligned as a bastion of
dysfunction, has taken action:  The Senate Judiciary
Committee yesterday passed an assault weapons ban that would
forbid sale of firearms and limit clips of high capacity
ammunition to 10 rounds.

But in Vermont, lawmakers have failed not only to pass any
gun laws or even take a vote, but also have failed to
advance any gun bill for a committee hearing.

"The minute you walk into the Statehouse, it's almost a
forbidden topic," said State Rep.  Linda Waite Simson,
D-Essex, a veteran gun control advocate. "That's the way
it's always been.  It's very discouraging to see that.  I
was in a small meeting where a representative said, 'Please
don't make me vote on guns, it's worse than civil unions.'
That's how a lot of representatives are feeling —
vulnerable."

Next Year, Maybe

Today is Crossover Day in the Statehouse, when non-spending
bills must be voted out of one chamber and sent to another
to have a chance of being enacted this year.  But lawmakers
and advocates say no gun control bill will come up for a
vote until the next session, at the earliest.

State Sen.  Dick McCormack, D-Bethel, entered a bill earlier
in the session that would make it a crime for failing to
safely secure firearms inside homes with children.  That
bill hasn't received a hearing, and none is scheduled.  In a
recent interview, McCormack could not even recall which
committee had jurisdiction over his bill.

"It's admittedly the least ambitious of all gun related
bills, and it's not getting a lot of action," McCormack
said. "There has not been much interest in my bill."

But McCormack said that he understood lawmakers' reluctance.
Before a few years ago, McCormack, generally one of the more
liberal members of the legislature, said that he told voters
during his re-election campaigns that he would not pursue
any gun control laws.  For much of his political life,
McCormack said he did not believes that guns were a serious
problem in Vermont, and that pursuing any legislation would
stir large opposition in hopes of solving a relatively small
problem.  Over time, as the U.S. has seen more mass killings
and as Vermont guns have been blamed for shootings in other
locations, McCormack said he evolved to support some gun
control measures.

"My position was based mainly on the idea that we're a very
safe state and so there wasn't a problem in need of fixing,"
McCormack said. "There wasn't a need so great to justify a
fight.  I'm not afraid of a fight, but I'm not a masochist.
I'm not going to invite public hostility for the fun of it.
(But) we are only one lunatic away from that argument
blowing up in my face, and I don't think I could live with
myself.  We're becoming the arsenal of the thugs of New
England and New York.  I think we have to take some
responsibility for that. "

On Town Meeting day, voters in six Upper Valley towns —
Strafford, Bradford, Woodstock, Norwich, Hartland, and
Thetford — approved resolutions urging lawmakers to enact
gun control laws, including mandatory background checks for
all gun buyers, a ban on assault weapons, and enhanced
penalties for so-called "straw purchasers."

State Rep.  Jim Masland and Margaret Cheney, Democrats who
represent Norwich, Sharon, Strafford, Thetford, said that
while they supported the background checks and the straw
purchaser crackdown, they have some reservations about an
assault weapons ban.

"It's problematic in that it's easy to say, 'I know one when
I see one,' but if you actually define them in words, it
becomes difficult," Masland, of Thetford, said.

Cheney agreed.

"We have to define what an assault weapon is," Cheney, of
Norwich, said. "I don't favor banning guns per se.  We have
to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and were we to
ban military style things designed to kill as many people as
possible as quickly as possible.  But (some) semi-automatic
rifles are used to kill deer."

Cautious Legislature

Nonetheless, Masland said the Town Meeting votes sent a
strong message, at least for some legislators, that their
constituents supported a gun control crackdown.

"That's a clear message that Vermonters want something done
about gun violence," Masland said. "All of us in the
Legislature recognize ... the legitimate pleadings of our
constituents who have had guns in their family for
generations and never hurt anyone.  I'm not trying to evade
the issue. 'Yet to be seen,' that's a good way to put it.
It's a two-year biennium, and if it doesn't happen this
year, it doesn't mean it won't happen.  It takes quite a
while for a lot of things to go through the Legislature when
they are important."

Norwich resident Laurie Levin, who helped petition the gun
control article onto the Town Meeting ballot, said her
loose-knit coalition will spend the next few months trying
to organize gun control groups in more communities, with an
eye toward pushing legislation in next year's session and
awakening what she believes is a "silent majority" of
residents in Vermont who favor gun control.

"There hasn't been a big open debate on the floor of the
House and Senate, but it doesn't mean there won't be in the
future.  It's something people are talking about," Levin
said. "What we have to do is let (legislators) know that
they don't have to be afraid, that there are a majority of
Vermonters who support them, and they don't have to worry
about losing their positions.  We have to have that silent
majority speaking up."

A slew of bills were introduced this year, including
measures that would require background checks for gun show
purchasers, ban semi-automatic weapons, ban silencers and
require a 48-hour waiting period for gun sales.  None
merited a hearing.

Evan Hughes, vice president of the Vermont Federation of
Sportsmen's Clubs, said that is for a good reason:  The
proposed laws were based on emotion, he said, not sound
policy.

"That's the committee process — they take up the bills in
the priority that they place on them," Hughes said. "There's
a lot of emotionalism about this issue, and legislation
passed in emotional arguments is not sound public policy."

Hughes said state lawmakers should defer to the federal
government so that the 50 states can have uniform gun laws.

Message Being Heard

State Rep.  Alison Clarkson, D-Woodstock, who introduced in
the House the gun safety bill that McCormack entered in the
Senate, was more optimistic that lawmakers would take
action, and said the poll results and the Town Meeting votes
would help build momentum for gun control measures.

"I think the support for the article combined with the
Castleton poll will send a message to the legislators and
governor," Clarkson said."There's lots of conversation about
it.  There's plenty of discussion going on.  I think the
House is ready for this.  I have some hope.  A bill is just
a starting point for a committee.  We're limited on time and
hope.  We're not limited on courage.  I would be
disappointed if the Legislature took no action this
session."

Gov.  Peter Shumlin's office did not respond to requests for
comment.  Shumlin merited a 92 rating from the National
Rifle Association last year, and said that he did not
support a ban on assault weapons or high capacity ammunition
or closing the so-called gun show loophole.  Shumlin
recently said, however, he would support a federal assault
weapons ban.

Vermont is one of four states that allows residents to carry
a concealed firearm without a permit.

The inaction in Montpelier comes as the U.S.  Senate
Judiciary Committee has approved gun control legislation in
recent weeks.  Yesterday, on a 10-8 vote, the committee
chaired by Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, approved a bill
banning the sale, transfer, manufacture and importation of
certain assault weapons.  (The measure is given little
chance of passing the Senate, let alone the
Republican-controlled House of Representatives.  )

In recent days, the committee has approved three other gun
control measures introduced in the wake of the mass shooting
at the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown,
Conn., that left 20 children dead.  Included is a bill that,
for the first time, made it explicitly illegal yo engage in
straw purchasing, buying firearms for a person who is
prohibited from obtaining one.

"What we have accomplished in our committee work has been
difficult, but we have not accepted that as an excuse to do
nothing," Leahy said. "We have listened to heart-wrenching
testimony.  We have opened the process to input from all,
and we have proceeded methodically to search for commonsense
answers to the recurring tragedy of gun violence."

Mark Davis can be reached at mcdavis@vnews.com or
603-727-3304.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Fox 44 News: Gun Control Rally inside the Vermont State House


http://www.fox44abc22yourvoice.com/story/21629452/vt-gun-control-legislation-unlikely-this-session
This morning gun control supporters were inside the Cedar Creek Room of the
Vermont State House calling for the enact of gun control laws, like H.124. They
were specifically calling for a ban on certain types of semi-automatic firearms.  
 
At the same time at this event there were several Vermont gun rights lobbyists 
in the state house in the committee rooms where hearings were being held on
bills that were related to guns/hunting, but not related directly to gun control.
Darin Goens, the NRA-ILA State Liaison for Vermont, was also busy in the
state house. 
 
Friday is Crossover Day, which means that a bill that has not emerged from its
committee of origin will not be taken up by the other house in that year.  So,
if H.124 were not to emerge from the House Judiciary Committee by the close
of business on Friday, it would not be taken up by the Senate this year.
 
This is why the gun control advocates are pushing hard this week for action on
H.124 and other gun control bills.
 
 
 



Monday, March 11, 2013

Senator Leahy's Gun Survey "NO! to Senator Leahy's Survey Trickery! "



Does it now appear to you that Senator Leahy
interpreted your participation in his electronic survey 
as support for increased federal gun control laws? 
Does it now look like Senator Leahy's survey could
have been created to have your participation be
inaccurately counted as supporting more federal
gun control laws?
 
Does it appear to you that Senator Leahy's E-mail
reports that the right of gun ownership, as affirmed
by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution,
and upheld in the Heller and McDonald decisions
by the U.S. Supreme Court, has been reduced to
the status of a mere political football in a contest of 
partisan politics gamesmanship?
 
If you answered "yes" to any of these questions you
have every right to contact Senator Leahy and politely
ask for his explanation of the purpose of his survey,
how your participation was used and call for him to
act to place protecting your rights over political party
maneuvering.
 
Or just say:  "NO, to Senator Leahy's Gun Survey Trickery
and Our Constitution is Not a Political Game! "
 
You may contact Senator Leahy at 800-642-3193
and/or at:

 
From: Patrick Leahy <c+leahy@trusted-sender.convio.net>
Date: March 9, 2013, 9:00:32 AM EST
To:
Subject: UPDATE: Guns legislation moves forward
Reply-To: Patrick Leahy <info@leahyforvermont.com>

Dear XXXXX --
Share your thoughts!Good news! After nearly 5,000 responses to my call for comments -- including yours -- the Leahy-Collins legislation to help stop weapons trafficking passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday and was reported to the full Senate. The committee began work on Senator Feinstein's bill to regulate assault weapons but was unable to complete action as Republican opponents of the bill filed over a dozen amendments to gut it.
Opponents of Senator Feinstein's bill have shown they will try to delay the assault weapon ban from coming out of Judiciary by offering amendment after amendment. They actually hope their dilatory tactics will end up defeating the bill in committee. But those tactics will not work in the Committee that I chair if Democrats stay unified behind her bill.
We still have a lot of work to do. I will reconvene the Judiciary Committee on Tuesday to work through all the amendments the Republicans have cooked up against the Feinstein bill, Senator Schumer's bill to improve background checks, and Senators Boxer and Warner's bill to improve school safety. And we will continue marking up through next week to complete action on these important bills.
It would be great to hear your thoughts before we work to report these bills to the Senate.
Click here to let me know any more thoughts you have on these bills, and then forward this message to any of your friends who would like to share their thoughts as the committee continues our work next week.
Thank you for helping us strive to develop a truly comprehensive solution to help our country stop gun violence and protect our families.
Sincerely,
Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator

Paid for by Leahy for Senate

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Legislative Deadline Looms As Anti-Gun Forces Make Late Push



Vermont: Legislative Deadline Looms As Anti-Gun Forces Make Late Push

Posted on March 8, 2013
The Vermont Legislature will hit its "Crossover" deadline on Friday, March 15, their timeline for passing bills from one chamber to the other.   The 2013 session has seen several anti-gun bills introduced in the Legislature, including semi-auto bans, magazine capacity limits, waiting periods and mandatory storage laws, among others.
On Wednesday, March 13, Gun Sense Vermont is planning a rally at the state  Capitol in Montpelier where they plan to deliver 3,000 signatures on a petition to Lieutenant Governor Phil Scott (R).  This petition calls for adopting anti-Second Amendment bills that will do nothing to address crime.  Vermont already has some of the lowest crime rates in the country. 
Gun owners need to make their voices heard to counter the clamor from the gun-grabbers.   Make sure your state lawmakers know that the vast majority of Vermonters OPPOSE additional gun control. 
Please continue to call and e-mail your state legislators and respectfully ask them to oppose the following bills:
House Bill 124 by Representative Linda Waite-Simpson bans commonly owned semi-automatic firearms and standard capacity magazines and criminalization of private transfers.
House Bill 125 by Representative Linda Waite-Simpson – Establishes a repository for the disposition of firearms.
House Bill 243, sponsored by Representative Alison Clarkson establishes stringent and impractical firearm storage requirements.
 House Bill 335, sponsored by Representative George Till (D-Chittenden-3),requires a 48-hour waiting period  for all gun sales by firearms dealers.
                                 48 Hour Wait period = End of Gun Shows
House Bill 336 sponsored by Representative George Till (D-Chittenden-3), establishes a fine of up to $1,000 and a prison sentence up to three years for anyone who points a firearm in the direction of another person.  It does not make an exemption for individuals acting in self-defense.
Contact your state legislators TODAY!  
©2012 National Rifle Association of America . Institute for Legislative Action. This may be reproduced. It may not be reproduced for commercial purposes.
11250 Waples Mill Rd. Fairfax , VA 22030   1800-392-8683(VOTE)

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Federation Meeting March 10, 2013

 
IMPORTANT MEETING!
THIS IS THE LAST MEETING BEFORE CROSS OVER DATE (MARCH 15, 2013)  
        TAKE INFORMATION BACK TO YOUR CLUBS!
 
The Federation Meeting will be held this Sunday, March 10, 2013
10:00AM  Barre Fish & Game Club!
 
 
Please attend. 
I have attached the agenda.
See you Sunday.
Mary
(in case you can't open the attachment I copied the agenda below)
Clint Gray,
President
Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.
 
Care Trak Northeast
 
Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.
Agenda
MARCH 10, 2013
PLEASE ATTEND, THIS IS THE LAST MEETING BEFORE CROSS OVER DATE!
 
1.      Call to Order
 
2.      Guest Speakers - Knowledge Outfitters
 
3.      Close Federation meeting:  Roy to open The Fund Meeting
4.      Close Fund meeting:  Clint to Reopen Federation Meeting
 
5.      Secretary's Report
 
6.      Treasurer's Report
 
7.      Operation Game Thief – Dick Lyford
 
8.      VFSC 2013 Banquet date
a.      Mark McCarthy, Dick Lyford, Roy Marble
 
9.      Old Business:
a.       
10.  New Business
a.       
 
11.  Other Business:
a.      Morrisville Gun Show schedule – April 6 & 7 reminder
 
12.  Finance/Budget Committee-Clint, Mark, Marcia, Roy, Dick, Evan
a.      Re-visit number of kids going to conservation camp
 
13.  Grant committee report -Clint, Mark, Marcia, Roy, Evan, Dick
 
14.  Legislation Reports- CROSS OVER DATE MARCH 15, 2013
a.      Evan Hughes
b.      Clint
c.       NRA State Association Report-Evan Hughes
 
15.  Adjourn
 





Thursday, March 7, 2013

Leahy Survey!! Pass it on!



VERY IMPORTANT!
PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS SURVEY AND PASS IT ALONG TO YOUR E-MAIL LIST!
THANK YOU!
CLINT
 
Clint Gray,
President
Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.
 
Care Trak Northeast



Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Vermont Crossover Dead Line is rapidly approaching (Friday, March 15th)



 
Please make the phone call!
 
Now that most Town Meetings are behind us.  We really need your help!
Those that represent you at the State House are home this week.  
Please call them at "HOME" and be polite and say to them:
"No new gun laws"  and "Vermont's laws are just fine"

This week is a critical week to speak to them, since they are home,
this is the time you may just have their ear for a few moments.  
 
Friday, March 15th is Crossover for 2013 in the Vermont Legislature.
Crossover is the date by which the gun control House bills would have
to pass out of the committee to which they are assigned to be passed
over to the Senate this year.  There will be tremendous pressure from
gun control advocates to get these gun control bills out of committee
by the close of the day next Friday (March 15, 2013)

Please, this is very important to contact them this week before they go
back to session next Tuesday.

If you don't know who represents you, please respond back to me and
I will help you figure it out.  This is how important I feel this is.  I will help
you!  802-467-8445(h) 802-535-7111(c)
 
Thank you for all your help in the past.  
 
We need to make sure that OUR voices are heard!
 
Evan, and Clint can't do this alone, we need to have each and every one
of you call your representatives.  Don't sit back and leave it to the other
person to do this!  YOU NEED TO BE INVOLVED!
 
Thank you!

Clint Gray,
President
Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.
 
Care Trak Northeast











NRA Courses in Vermont

March 9 & 10:  NRA Pistol Instructor Workshop
March 23:  NRA Basic Pistol
March 30:  USCCA Concealed Carry and Home Defense Fundamental Seminar.  (New, 4-hour seminar!!!!)
April 13: NRA Basic Rifle
April 20:  NRA Basic Pistol
April 27:  NRA  Range Safety Officer Course 
June 8:  NRA Personal Protection In The Home
June 29 & 30:  NRA Personal Protection Outside The Home
 
All classes are at the Caledonia Forest & Stream Club in St. Johnsbury.  Register online at www.nrainstructors.org or contact me via phone/email below.
 
Stephen D Jeffrey
 
Call 802-535-7901 or Email training@vermontana.com for more information on NRA training.
See www.vermontana.com for training schedule.  Celebrating over twenty years as an Instructor!
 
Training Counselor  | Certified Instructor  |  Regional Refuse To Be a Victim Counselor
Chief Range Safety Officer  |  Range Technical Team Advisor
 
tc_logoinstructor_logorso  USCCA Image
 

Tuesday, March 5, 2013

H.243. Four VT Mayors know what is best for you. Police too.

The mayors of Barre, Burlington Montpelier, and Rutland have are
supporting H.243 a gun lock bill.  In the Heller v. D.C. case Chief
Justice Roberts and Justice Scalia discussed the D.C. law on
regulating guns in homes.
 
Are they paying your house payments or rent?  Paying your taxes or
for insurance?  You bet they aren't.  They have you footing the bills.
Paying them too.
H.243 is as much of a property rights issue as a gun rights issue.

Friday, March 1, 2013

Great Gun Raffle Friends of NRA

The Central Vermont Friends of NRA are holding their annual gun raffle.
The prizes this year are:
Ruger 77 GS Scout .308 Winchester
Springfield Armory M1A .308 Winchester
Stag Arms AR-15 5.56mm
Henry "Big Boy" .44 Mag
Colt Government (stainless) .45 ACP
or $1,000 cash
Once winner is drawn each month, starting in April and the last one
is drawn at the FNRA Banquet on Sept. 14th. Winner does not
have to be present to winner. FNRA FFL already has many of the
prize firearms. Guns are subject to availability but we have always
gotten winners a prize that satisfied them.

The raffle tickets are $100.00 and there will only be 150 tickets sold.
There will be six drawings. Each winner, in each drawing will have
their choice of all of the prizes. And the winning ticket goes back
into the mix, so the same ticket can win more than once.
This works out to $16.67 a chance to win. If two people buy a
ticket together, they can each get 3 changes to win their choice
of prices or split the $1,000.00.
All state and federal laws apply. Call 802-272-8751 for information

Gun control issues are getting more heated...



It may seem like you are being asked to call the legislature on one
bill or another and there is a switch to call your U.S. Senators on
a federal issue.  It may seem like there is confusion but it is all
really about responding to legislation as it moves forward. 
 
Right now we need to focus right now on the U.S. Senate. Please call to
politely tell our senators "No new gun laws, enforce existing gun laws!"
 
Pat Leahy 800-642-3193 & Bernie Sanders 800-339-9834
 
Nobody, nobody is going to get to sit out these battles because even
if you do not get involved, the future of gun ownership, shooting and
hunting are on the line.  You, your children and beyond are involved.
It come down to where were you when the battle took place.
 
Senator Diane Feinstein is leading a charge in the U.S. Senate to
enact a semi-auto rifle ban, magazine ban and all the rest of her
gun control dream.  It would bring San Francisco to this nation.
 
The battle over the enactment of NY State-type gun control is
becoming more heated yesterday the Maryland Senate passed
NY State-type gun control and it sent it over to the MD House.
 
Yesterday there was a big gun rights rally in the Capitol Park
next to the state capitol.  See article below
 

Gun rights rally draws over 5,000 people

Posted on February 28, 2013 at 3:01 pm by Jimmy Vielkind, Capitol bureau in Andrew Cuomo, Brian Kolb, Guns, State Senate
 
More than 5,000 gun rights advocates swarmed the Capitol for a rally Thursday, cheering as a parade of lawmakers who opposed New York's new gun control law lauded the Second Amendment and blasted the new law's backers.
 
"This is probably one of the most egregious acts by government I've seen defying our nation's history," said Assembly Minority Leader Brian Kolb, R-Canandaigua. "It's time to repeal this law."
 
Called the SAFE Act by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, its principal backer, the gun control measure broadened the definition of banned assault weapons and made magazines containing more than seven bullets unlawful. It also increased penalties for illegal gun possession, reduced public access to gun permit information and allowed mental health professionals to report concerns about a gun-owning patient harming himself or others.
 
The bill passed quickly last month, through a "message of necessity" that waived the legally required three-day waiting period. The Senate, led by a Republican-dominated coalition, passed the measure by a 43-18 vote less than two hours after the bill's text became public. The Democrat-dominated Assembly passed the bill the next day, and Cuomo signed it.
 
While Senate Republican Leader Dean Skelos voted for the bill and allowed it to come to the floor — a key action that allowed it to become law — rally organizers directed their enmity toward Cuomo. One attendee, though, held a sign that said, "Hey, Skelos, try growen' a pair." Speakers at a smaller rally held earlier this month, headlined by former gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino, denounced Skelos more directly.
 
Several members of the Republican conference spoke at the rally to denounce the bill.
 
"I have never seen a crowd this big," said Sen. John Bonacic, a Republican from the Hudson Valley. "You inspire me to fight on."
 
Exactly how is unclear. There doesn't appear to be enough legislative support to repeal the act, or significantly amend it to peel back some provisions, though the state's top lawmakers have said they are considering some corrections to the bill, including an exemption for film production studios using fake guns. The New York State Rifle and Pistol Association organized Thursday's rally, and is working on a legal challenge to the new law.
 
That group's president, Tom King, had said 10,000 people would come to the rally. A dense crowd filled West Capitol Park as well as sidewalks along Swan Street, State Street and Washington Avenue, and organizers said over 80 buses brought in ralliers from around the state. State Police Lt. Robert Poisson said the crowd was "over 5,000," though estimation is an inexact science. He said there were no law enforcement issues, and that from a police perspective the rally was "quite uneventful."
 
NRA President David Keene traveled to town for the rally, and said Cuomo pushed the bill "on the altar of his own ambition and on the ego of Michael Bloomberg of New York City."
 
Cuomo has defended the gun law, often noting that public opinion polls have found at least 2/3 of voters surveyed support it. He has characterized the dissent — including resolutions passed by half the state's counties — as the actions of a "vocal minority." A Siena Research Institute survey released earlier this month found 50 percent of Upstate voters supported the measure, compared to 46 percent who were opposed.
 
"People don't agree about gun control," Cuomo said Wednesday. "It's difficult. Look at the conversations in Washington D.C."
 
 
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