Fwd: BFP: Vermont Gun Bill Spending GUN CONTROL SPENDING WAS HUGE

Remember the gun control group paid their Vermont lobbyist $39,000 for April 1 through June 31, 2014

and another $39,000 for July 1 through December 31, 2014.  For a total of $78,000.00 in 2014.

 

Now they have reported the even larger amount for the period of January 1 to March 31, 2015 and there

will be another expense reporting for April 1 until June 30.  So, for the 12 month period from April 1, 2014

to March 31, 2015 the gun control group spent approximately    $130,000.00. 

                                                                                                          77,567.90

Add the $77,567.90 of Everytown (see below) and you get over $207.000.00 having been spent to get S.141.

 

Everytown spent over $20,000 in advertising a month Jan. 1 to March 31, 2015.  $20K a month.

The BFP did not include the Everytown for Gun Safety Money.  Why not?        

                

This does not include their nearly $30,000 in campaign contribution funds recently reported in Seven Days.

 

The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, NRA and National Shooting Sports spent a total of less

than $37K for January 1, 2015 through April 30, 2015. 

 

The mandatory background check was pulled when S.31 was dumped.  We could have walked away

but the gun rights groups stayed to make sure that all of the technical and structural legal problems in

what became S.141 did not become law. 

 

Does anyone really think most of the gun control group money came from Vermont?

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/politics/2015/04/23/vermont-gun-bill-spending/26250711/

 

This data comes to $77,567.90 from a group with a mailing address of P.O. Box 4184, New York, New York, 10163.

Gunsensevt won't disclose the source of their funding.   Wouldn't a responsible press be just a little curious?

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Disclosure Information

Date	Compensation	EXP - Advertising	EXP - Telemarketing	EXP - Other	EXP - Total	Gifts	Contracts	Disclosure
04/24/2015	$10,133.70	$65,818.30	$0.00	$1,615.90	$67,434.20	$0.00	$0.00
Total:	$ 10,133.70	$ 65,818.30	$ 0.00	$ 1,615.90	$ 67,434.20	$ 0.00	$ 0.00

VT F&W Dept. Public Hearings on Proposed Rules ONLY for Department Range(s) 4/23 and 4/29

>
> Vermont F&W Department will be conducting a public hearing on altering the rules governing
> shooting at the VT F&W's Hammond Cove Range in Hartland and any new VT F&W ranges.
> These rules do not pertain to any other ranges, only ranges owned by VT F&W.
>
> This public hearing is not connected to H.296, the bill that would put ranges under municipal
> control.    
>
> This public hearing is not about H.460, the bill to ban lead ammo for hunting (for now)
>      
> If you want to oppose H.296 or H.460 both bills are assigned to the House F&W Committee
> and call the Sgt-At-Arms at 802-828-2228 and leave the message "No to H.296 and H.460"
> for Representatives David Deen, Steve Beyor and Kate Webb. 
>       
> The hearing is scheduled to run from 6:30 to 8:30 P.M. Pavilion Auditorium, at 109 State St.
> Montpelier today and another meeting at Hartland Recreational Center, Route 12, Hartland
> on Wednesday, April 29 from 6:30-8:30 P.M.  Press Release below.
>
>  
> Proposed Shooting Range Rules Only for F&W Ranges
>
>
>
> VERMONT FISH & WILDLIFE
> Press Release
> For Immediate Release: March 30, 2015
> Media Contacts: Daneil Pieterse, Shooting Range Project Technician, 802-272-6923
> Chris Saunders, Hunter Education coordinator, 802-343-5487
> Proposed Shooting Range Rules Only for F&W Ranges
> MONTPELIER, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department is proposing strengthening rules for the shooting range it owns at Hammond Cove in Hartland and any others it may open in the future. The proposed rules would not apply to any other shooting ranges.
> Fish & Wildlife says the proposed rules are needed to address potential noise, safety and usage issues with a goal of developing more ranges for members of the public to safely hone their shooting skills.
> The public is invited to review and comment on the proposed rules at a public hearing in the Pavilion Auditorium, 109 State Street, Montpelier, on Thursday, April 23, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., and at a public informational meeting in the Hartland Recreational Center, Route 12, Hartland on Wednesday, April 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
> Since the first department-owned shooting range opened in Hartland, Vermont in 2012, there has been a dramatic increase in its use.
> Proposed rules for ranges operated by the Fish & Wildlife Department include:
> • Require all users15 years of age and older to have a valid Vermont hunting, fishing or combination license unless attending an event or training sponsored by the department.
> • Prohibit use of any fireworks, pyrotechnics, or any other explosive targets, including tannerite.
> • Prohibit firing more than six rounds per magazine.
> -30-

Action Alert: Contact VT House F&W Committee: "No to H.296, H.297 and H.460"

Some serious anti-gun and anti-outdoors sporting bills are assigned to the House Fish & Wildlife Committee.

H.296 would place Vermont's ranges under the control of municipal governments. 

H.297 would restrict the ownership and sale of ivory and rhino horn objects already owned by Vermonters.

H.460 would ban lead ammo for hunting.  At least only for hunting right now.

We all would like to think that these bills would not be going anywhere right but that is just not correct.

There is approximately a month left in the scheduled 2015 legislative year and the closer they get to

the final gavel the quicker the horse trading goes on in the state house. 

Now is the time to contact the members of the House F&W Committee politely say:  "No to H.296, H.297 and H.460"

You can leave them a message with the Sgt-at-Arms at 802-828-2228,  only Monday through Friday. 

 

House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources 

Members

• Rep. David L. Deen, Chair                   (D)  Westminster     (802) 869-3116   ddeen@leg.state.vt.us
• Rep. James McCullough, Vice Chair  (D)  Williston           (802) 878-2180              N/A
• Rep. Steve Beyor, Ranking Member   (R)  Highgate Spr   (802) 868-3456    sbeyor@leg.state.vt.us
• Rep. Robert Krebs                                (D)  South Hero      (802) 372-4567    rkrebs@leg.state.vt.us
• Rep. Paul Lefebvre, Clerk                    (R)  Island Pond     (802) 467-8338    plefebvre@leg.state.vt.us
• Rep. Amy Sheldon                                (D)  E. Middlebury       N/A                 asheldon@leg.state.vt.us
• Rep. Thomas Terenzini                        (R)  Rutland            (802) 855-1945    tterenzini@leg.state.vt.us
• Rep. Kathryn Webb                              (D)  Shelburne        (802) 985-2789    kwebb@leg.state.vt.us
• Rep. Janssen Willhoit                          (R)  St. Johnsbury  (802) 431-5118    jwillhoit@leg.state.vt.us

Staff

• Didi Brush, Committee Assistant
  (802) 828-2266
  dbrush@leg.state.vt.us

 

Today in House Judiciary Committee on S.141 (Nasty Ruled Today)

>  
> Today the House Judiciary Committee took up the Federation's suggested
> Veterans-Hunters-Shooters Protection Amendment to remove the totally
> unnecessary 18 month waiting period for those who have recovered from
> mental illness.  This would allow recovered citizen to be able to petition a
> Vermont court to have their rights reinstated.  
>  
> This would have resulted in the federal NICS system being notified and the
> citizen to have the legal disability status removed.
>  
> The Federation believed that if the 18 month waiting period was removed, it
> would provide a viable solution on this issue in S.141.  Of the 31 states that
> have a similar NICS reporting system, 30 do not have a waiting period. 
>  
> The U.S. Department of Justice NICS restoration of rights process does not
> require a state waiting period.  Not even for a state to qualify for its grants
> program.
>  
> After testimony on the the proposed Federation amendment that was introduced
> by the Rep. Thomas Burditt (R) West Rutland, the language was discussed at
> length and was well received. 
>  
> At the very end of the hearing, Rep. Willem Jewett (D) Ripton introduced an
> amendment to the Federation amendment.  His amendment would raise the
> standard of proof of a recovered citizen from a preponderance of evidence
> (51 percent) to the much higher "clear and convincing evidence" standard.
>  
> This means a citizen who has recovered from mental illness and petitions to
> have their firearms right restored will face an expensive and very difficult legal
> process that virtually permanently bars them from the possession of firearms.
>  
> This passed all passed in the committee, as did the now amended S.141.
> The vote to pass was along party lines. 
>  
> As the Federation was willing to not oppose S.141, if the Federation
> amendment was incorporated into S.141, the amending of the Federation
> language to include the draconian language of the Rep. Jewett has killed
> that offer and the Federation now remains strenuously opposed to S.141.
>  
> S.141 now heads to the floor of the House and it should stand for its first
> floor vote on Thursday and its final vote on Friday.
>  
> S.141 has ceased to be just a gun control bill.  It has become much worse.
> In addition being an unnecessary gun control bill, it is a bill that could deter
> people from seeking assistance with mental illness issues.  It now reinforces
> a stigma of disdain for those who have had the misfortunate to fall into mental
> illness.  Like our returning Veterans and their families.
>  
> The Federation and all of the other gun rights groups could have walked
> away from all of this after defeating S.31 and its mandatory background
> check system.  But, instead all stayed to work to remove or correct serious
> and numerous legal and structural problems with the remaining two sections,
> in what became S.141.
>  
> The members of the House Judiciary Committee who voted for S.141 have
> now staked out an inexcusable position of mislabeling the mentally ill (even
> when recovered) as forever being social and legal outcasts, excluded from
> from the respect and the rights of peaceful citizens. 
>  
> This awful amendment is now their position, on public record, let them defend it.
>  
> If you would like to voice your opposition to the Jewett Amendment to S.141
> call the Sgt-At-Arms at 802-828-2228 and leave a message for Rep. Maxine
> Grad (House Judiciary Chair) and Rep. Willem Jewett (Vice-Chair):  
> Please Justify  The S.141 Jewett Amendment
> House Judiciary Members are:
> Name
> Email
> Phone
> Party/Town
> Maxine Grad, Chair
> mgrad@leg.state.vt.us
> 496-7667
> (D) - Moretown
> Willem Jewett, Vice Chair
> wjewett@leg.state.vt.us
> 388-0320
> (D) - Ripton
> Thomas Burditt, Ranking Member
> tburditt@leg.state.vt.us
> 438-0031
> (R) - W. Rutland
> Charles Conquest
> cconquest@leg.state.vt.us
> 757-3803
> (D) - Wells River
> William Frank
> bill@repbillfrank.com
> 899-3136
> (D) - Underhill
> Martin LaLonde
> mlalonde@leg.state.vt.us
> 863-3086
> (D) - S. Burlington
> Marcia Martel
> mmartel@leg.state.vt.us
> 748-9134
> (R) - Waterford
> Betty Nuovo
> bnuovo@leg.state.vt.us
> 388-2024
> (D) - Middlebury
> Barbara Rachelson
> brachelson@leg.state.vt.us
> 862-1290
> (D) - Burlington
> Vicki Strong
> vstrong@leg.state.vt.us
> 754-2790
> (R) - Irasburg
> Gary Viens
> gviens@leg.state.vt.us
> 323-2183
> (R) - Newport
> The Committee Assistant is:
> Kate Wilson
> (802) 828-2257
> kwilson@leg.state.vt.us  
>  
>  
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Action Alert: Vermont House Judiciary Committee to Vote on Tuesday morning

Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.

Proudly Serving Vermont Since 1875

www.vtfsc.org

 

 

After repeated attempts to achieve a viable solution with our legislators over a very reasonable pro-gun / hunting rights amendment to S.141, it now time to contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee with a simple message:

"Amend S.141 with the Veteran's/Hunters/Shooters Protection Amendment or Vote Against the bill"

 

This amendment repairs an unreasonable period of denial of access to due process of law before being able to petition a court for restoration of gun rights. The proposed amendment is just and fair. 

 

On weekdays you may leave them a message with the Sgt-At Arms at 802-828-2228. 

 

On weekends and Mondays you can also leave them a message at their residence.

 

There is no need to debate the bill with the legislators, just tell them the short one sentence message.  It is now time to be quite firm.

Select a session

Select a session

[2015-2016 Session \/]

2007-2008 and Earlier Sessions

[Go]

House Judiciary Members are:

 

Name	Email	Phone	Party/Town
Maxine Grad, Chair	mgrad@leg.state.vt.us	496-7667	(D) - Moretown
Willem Jewett, Vice Chair	wjewett@leg.state.vt.us	388-0320	(D) - Ripton
Thomas Burditt, Ranking Member	tburditt@leg.state.vt.us	438-0031	(R) - W. Rutland
Charles Conquest	cconquest@leg.state.vt.us	757-3803	(D) - Wells River
William Frank	bill@repbillfrank.com	899-3136	(D) - Underhill
Martin LaLonde	mlalonde@leg.state.vt.us	863-3086	(D) - S. Burlington
Marcia Martel	mmartel@leg.state.vt.us	748-9134	(D) - Waterford
Betty Nuovo	bnuovo@leg.state.vt.us	388-2024	(D) - Middlebury
Barbara Rachelson	brachelson@leg.state.vt.us	862-1290	(D) - Burlington
Vicki Strong	vstrong@leg.state.vt.us	754-2790	(R) - Irasburg
Gary Viens	gviens@leg.state.vt.us	323-2183	(R) - Newport

 

 

The Committee Assistant is:

Kate Wilson
(802) 828-2257
kwilson@leg.state.vt.us