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By Sam Douglass
A policy change that would modify the Burlington City charter to ban firearms in bars has been revived in the Senate Judiciary Committee—but this time, the policy extends statewide.
On Thursday, Senate Pro Tempore Sen. Phil Baruth (D/P-Chittenden Central), presented an amendment to H.606, an already controversial gun control bill that narrowly survived a final vote in the House Judiciary Committee in March. The Senator’s amendment revisits the issue at the heart of S.131, a similarly controversial bill that has sat in the House Government Operations Committee since April 2025. The difference being that the earlier legislation targeted bars in Burlington only, while the new proposal would ban firearms in bars and many other establishments statewide.
The Senate Pro Tem has been vocal in criticizing how S.131 was handled and on Thursday pointed to consistently strong support from Burlington voters, who have supported the policy by wide margins since 2014.
Vermont Federation of Sportsmens Clubs President Chris Bradley said this weekend he is aware of the amendment and was able to give testimony on Friday.
At the time, opponents of the original legislation raised concerns about how the ban would be enforced and its impact on law-abiding residents who feel unsafe without carrying a firearm in Burlington.
“I worry about my ability and the ability of every other Vermonter [to stay safe],” said Sen. Patrick Brennan in opposition to S.131. “I grew up in Burlington. Let me say this. I walked two miles every day in second and third and fourth grade to my grandmother’s. Would I do that now?”
Supporters of the measure, however, have also defended the proposal as a matter of public safety.
“In a place where people are in the process of becoming intoxicated, we do not want firearms available to them in that context,” Baruth said Thursday.
The original 2025 legislation was introduced following a 2024 shooting at a bar on Church Street and numerous incidents of gun violence since then have highlighted the urgency of additional measures to increase safety in the Queen City.
In his presentation, Baruth stated that he preferred for this policy to only affect Burlington, but with prior objections to S.131 creating inconsistent standards of enforcement from region to region, he supports the principle statewide.
“There was…grumbling from some quarters about the fact that the charter would create a piecemeal structure,” Baruth told lawmakers. “So this is…a prohibition on guns in bars statewide rather than just within the boundaries of Burlington.”
Lawmakers also discussed how the proposed ban would apply in mixed-use establishments, like hotels. In places with licensed bars, firearms would be prohibited in the designated areas where alcohol is served, but not necessarily in other parts of the building, such as lobbies or guest rooms.
Information for In Committee news reports are sourced from GoldenDomeVt.com and the General Assembly website. Generative AI has not been used in the writing of this story. The text of the amendment was not included on the committee webpage and was only provided in paper copies to members of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
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Categories: Gunrights, Legislation
Obviously Baruth hasn’t read Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution.
So he is pushing for another law that, like so many others, won’t be enforced by the spineless judiciary! It’s important that we treat all Vermonters like criminals to be equitable forget the Vermont Constitution! The only rights that matter are those the Leftist Progressives from “Moscow on Lake Champlain” say matter!!
the majority of people who are commiting crimes with guns are not registered.
so another layer of law. an as one commentor said, its never enforced. how about if you are found guilty of commiting a crime with a weapon you must serve a minimum sentence. that the criminals will get.
Let’s ban Baruth statewide. Let’s ban drag queens from schools statewide. Let’s ban progressives from legislatures nationwide.
What part of the second amendment does this communist not understand?
He doesn’t understand any of it !
There’s only one part to understand: “Shall not be infringed.”
The shooting referred to in this article did not occur inside a bar, but outside on the street in front of the bar….so not really at a bar. This proposed legislation, if it becomes law, still would not prevent that shooting from happening. Just sayin’. Once again, an attempt to get the camels nose of complete gun control inside the tent…
Baruth was stated to leave government, why is he hanging on–until pay day? He hates hunter orange, anything that looks like a “weapon”. He’s incompetent to serve the state. Isn’t there such a facility being considered for the incompetent with about five various Depts to control. As John Paul states, criminals won’t be affected just the elderly element (being prominent) of Vermont’s citizens. Baruth needs a emotional high, nothing practical.
Right, parking lot shoot outs are totally safe. I remember the DC sniper shooting people outside of bars, restaurants, health clubs, etc..
So anybody exiting a bar will be waring a “gun free zone” banner .
Or, a banner that reads “I’m unarmed, my money is in my right front pocket beside my fentanyl “.
So you can walk into a bank legally with a gun but not a bar. Interesting logic but the idiot Democrats
Baruth, the New Yorker, really wants to go out with a bang. His “gun safety” proposal will guarantee that there will be many more guns left in vehicles outside of bars and restaurants ripe for thievery.
I will be so glad when Baruth is no longer “serving” in the Vermont Senate ! Maybe a hero’s welcome in Lockport N.Y. is in order for their native son ! Nah, they probably don’t want him back . Good riddens to a wanna be Vermonter !
“In his presentation, Baruth stated that he preferred for this policy to only affect Burlington, but with prior objections to S.131 creating inconsistent standards of enforcement from region to region, he supports the principle statewide.”
I call Bull$h!T on Baruth! He’s never met a piece of anti 2nd amendment legislation that he didn’t like. This was his plan all along, oh we can’t have there be a patchwork of inconsistencies, so we’ll just go statewide la de da. Pulling out all the stops for his legacy as he’s gone in November, like a rat jumping a sinking ship. 😡