Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Action Needed to protect YOUR rights!


 
The House Government Operations Committee is taking testimony Thursday and Friday on the Berlin Pond Public Access Ban issue. 
 
We need our folks to call or e-mail the Sergeant at Arms at 802-828-2228 or jmiller@leg.state.vt.us
to leave a polite message for the members of the House Government Operations Committee:  "No to the Berlin Pond Section of H.187"
 
You will be protecting the Vermont Sportsmen's Bill of Rights and "Public Trust Doctrine" which established that Vermonters natural resources belong to all Vermonters.  The City of Montpelier should not be able to ban public access to Berlin's Pond.
 
This time of the year those of us who are active in the Vermont State House know that as the legislature heads to
the final gavel is when bills start moving fast and furiously.  It is important that you understand that when we make
the contacts we request, it is to alert you need to take action ASAP to protect your rights and interests. 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, April 19, 2016

Action Alert! City of Montpelier looking to Ban hunting, fishing and trapping! Call The SGT at Arms by Wednesday.


> Friends:
>  
> Berlin Pond was opened to non-motorized recreation five years ago after a Supreme Court ruling was handed down stating access could not be denied under current laws. 
>  
> The City of Montpelier is attempting to change the laws that protect your rights to hunt, fish, and trap.
> Montpelier City Mayor John Hollar, Representative Warren Kitzmiller and a small group of landowners around Berlin pond are once again attempting to overturn the Vermont Constitution, that states we have the right to hunt and fish waters that are not inclosed, the Public Trust Doctrine, which states all waters of the state are owned by everyone and the Sportsmen's Bill of Rights that keeps municipalities from regulating hunting, fishing & trapping.  They are attempting to pass a Municipal Charter Change that would allow the City to ban all fishing, non-motorized boating, hunting, and trapping on Berlin Pond.
>  
> Call or e-mail the Sergeant at Arms at 802-828-2228 or jmiller@leg.state.vt.us
> and politely ask they send a message to the  members of the House Government Operations Committee to OPPOSE The Berlin Pond Section of H.871. 
>  
> If this most recent attack by a handful of elitist pond dwellers and politicians is successful it will have major ripple effects across the entire state.
>
> This battle has been going on for over five years now.  They were defeated at the Supreme Court of Vermont.  They were defeated when the town of Berlin voted overwhelmingly for recreational access.  They were defeated when the "citizens group" petitioned the Department of Environmental Conservation to ban all recreation.  And most recently they were defeated last year when Rep. Warren Kitzmiller authored new legislation which would have given Montpelier full control.  That attempt failed to gain traction and was pulled out of committee after overwhelming opposition to the proposed legislation.
>  
> This is very important! Please take one minute out of the next couple of days to make the call. 
>  
> Sergeant-at-Arms
> jmiller@leg.state.vt.us
> 802-828-2228
>
> Nate Smead, Mike Covey and Frank Stanley
> VTC & Friends of Berlin Pond
>  
>  
>  

Sunday, April 17, 2016

VSRPA - 2016 will be a great year for shooting!



Note the CMP Travel Games event at CEATS from September 14-18.  A great achievement for the VSRPA.
Vermont State Rifle and Pistol Association
454 South Main Street
Northfield, VT 05663
secretary@vsrpa.org          (802) 485-6818          www.vsrpa.org
 
April 14th, 2016
 
The 2016 shooting season is upon us, so the purpose of this note is to let you know that our schedule has been published and is available at this link.  All clinic and match registration forms are available as well. 
 
For 2016 we are currently planning on running two High Power clinics; one this coming weekend (limited space still available) and another on June 25th.  These clinics have been key to bringing new shooters into our sport, so if you have someone who might be interested, please let them know; the clinic sign-up packet can be found here.  If you would like to lend a hand at a clinic; let me know.
 
Above and beyond the NRA 50-shot and Mid-Range Prone/F-Class matches we are running, I need you to be aware that the CMP will be conducting a CMP Travel Games event at CEATS from September 14-18, which means Small Arms Firing School; M1 Garand, M1 Carbine, 1903 Springfield and Vintage Military bolt-gun matches; rim-fire sporter, pistol and rifle EIC matches and more - in addition to selling Garands.  So:  Mark your calendars, more information is at this link.
 
To help run our matches, we would like to ask you to consider taking the RSO/OIC briefing at CEATS; these are about 20 minutes long and are conducted at CEATS on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month, as well as the 2nd Sunday - all start at 11AM.  Having additional people to help run matches is a huge help so please consider doing this; contact Chris Bradley if interested.
 
 A VSRPA membership allows access to buy rifles and ammo from the CMP. a VSRPA application is here,
 
I look forward to seeing you on the firing line!
 
Best Regards to All;
 
Chris Bradley, Secretary - VSRPA

Saturday, April 9, 2016

Clinton: New York criminals get guns from Vermont


 
The media has reported Hillary Clinton has asserted that Vermont is a serious source of guns for criminals in New York State.  The annual BATFE trace back data from 2006 through 2014 is shown down below the link to the article reporting Hillary Clinton's reported inaccurate allegation. Vermont has a strong tourism industry and Hillary Clinton has wrongly defamed the important reputation of the good charter of Vermonters.  The BATFE data disproves Hillary Clinton's irresponsible allegation.
 
                                             BATFE Gun Trace Back Data from the BATFE Annual Web Sites
 
The BATFE lists trace back data from 2006 through 2014.  It reports New York State trace back data as follow:
 
2014                        
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   4,585                                                 1,397                                                  55
 
2013                        
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   4,784                                                  1,499                                                  61
 
2012                        
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   4,850                                                  1,552                                              None Listed
 
2011                       
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   4,973                                                  1,595                                              None Listed
 
2010                      
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   4,691                                                  1,459                                              None Listed
 
2009                      
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   5,426                                                  1,819                                              None Listed
 
2008                      
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   5,407                                                  1,663                                              None Listed
 
2007                      
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   5,492                                                  1,619                                              None Listed
 
2006                      
Guns NYS                                Guns NYS Traced Back                  Guns NYS Traced Back To
Traced Back                             To NYS as Source State                 Vermont as Source State
   6,085                                                  1,784                                              None Listed
 
2006 through 2014                    2006 through 2014 NYS                 2006 through 2014 NYS
NYS Traced Back                       Traced Back to NYS as                 Traced Back to Vermont
to Source State                                 Source State                                 as Source State
 
Total = 46,293                               Total = 14,387                                    Total = 116