Gunrights

More pressing crime issues than banning guns in bars, Guv says

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Enforcement also an issue, Guv says of Burlington ordinance approved by Senate

By Guy Page

Governor Phil Scott is not a fan of the bill passed by the Senate that bans guns in Burlington bars.

S.131, a Burlington city charter change banning guns on bar premises, received preliminary Senate approval Thursday with 12 no votes, enough to uphold a veto. Friday afternoon, the Senate approved S.131 on third and final reading. The bill now goes to the House. 

Monday morning, VDC asked Gov. Scott’s office what he thinks about S.131. The answer? Not much. And he’s antsy about the non-progress of his own Public Safety Omnibus bill, now stalled in House Judiciary.

Here’s what Press Secretary Amanda Wheeler wrote back: 

“The Governor’s public safety bill this session reflects the concerns we’ve been hearing from Vermonters – they’re frustrated with the lack of accountability for repeat offenders and the illicit drug use and effects on our communities. We believe those are the most important public safety issues to focus on this session – not banning guns in bars. There are still many unanswered questions, for example, how would this proposed ban be enforced?”

The enforcement question was also asked by Sen. Pat Brennan (R-Grand Isle) during the floor debate Thursday. Unless the Legislature wants to return to the old days of frisking people, there’s probably not much that can be done to prevent concealed carry in bars, he said. 

H.411 was introduced February 27. It’s been hanging on the House Judiciary Committee wall ever since. This week – with just weeks left in the session – Judiciary is scheduled to discuss a transgender rights resolution, refusing to let ICE into schoos, and Fair and Impartial Policing Oversight. Nothing about H.411.

It remains to be seen if S.131 passes the House, and if it does whether Gov. Scott will veto it. Should it be enacted into law, S.131 also may face a legal challenge from gun rights groups who say it explicitly violates the 1987 Sportsmen’s Bill of Rights law preventing municipalities from imposing gun control not permitted by state law.

Two bills signed into law – Last week, Governor Scott signed into law S.3, relating to the transfer of property to a trust, and  H.80, expanding the authority of the Office of the Health Care Advocate and requiring the Green Mountain Care Board to make public all materials in the record of a rate review proceeding (with some exceptions). 

House to consider road salt reduction, solar expansion bills – The House will discuss on the floor this week H. 86, Establishing the Chloride Contamination Reduction Program at the Agency of Natural Resources, and S.50, increasing the size of solar net metering projects that qualify for expedited registration.

House T-bill goes to Senate – The Senate on Tuesday will consider a Taiwan friendship resolution, relieving Medical debt, increasing monetary thresholds for health care facility certificates of need, and the House version of the omnibus Transportation bill (the ‘T-bill).

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Categories: Gunrights, State House Spotlight

9 replies »

  1. Democrats and Progressives are putting all their campaign chips on Orange Man Bad in 2026 and will also blame Gov Scott for lack of education funding reform. Good luck with that.

  2. When all this gun safety legislation happened, wonder why Gov Scott isn’t remembered. Remember in Fair Haven a guy was near a school with a gun and arrested. Haven’t heard much of this since. Gov Scott immediately signed into law anti-gun laws presented by the legislature. So began many gun law attempts and did happen. Seemed hat outside anti-gun groups wanted to have VT an example how states can pass laws. The beginning the downfall of law people having guns and the Vermont Constitution and the 2nd Amendment of the US Constitution and “SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED”. Liberals will pass anything to their desire and govern by the standing “if you don’t like it or think it’s against the law, take us to Court. Courts where Liberal Judges sit and lean to upholding the gun laws. Liberal laws, liberal Judges, guns don’t have a chance. They are the law violators.

    When I was in school, students would bring their guns to school, on rear window racks and the vehicles were unlocked. It was the sacred season of deer hunting. A great time in reality then. No one ever was shot to gun stolen. Too bad many in VT didn’t live in those great times, the 50’s.

  3. S.131 belongs in the circular file. “Gun free zones” do nothing but give criminals a sense of security in knowing that law-abiding citizens will be safe targets, because they won’t be armed. But then again, that’s what anti 2nd Amendment proponents want, safety for criminals to ply their trade .

    • Re: “knowing that law-abiding citizens will be safe targets, because they won’t be armed.” That may be the take away that many assume, but in reality the more illegally guns are “regulated” the greater the expansion of “criminal behavior”. The reason being that formerly law abiding citizens will now become part of the “criminal class” a direct response to passing unconstitutional gun laws. I’ll be one of them…just saying.

  4. Every felon, drug dealer, habitual offender and illegal alien can carry guns and have magazines any size they want because they don’t care what Phil Baruth Senate Pro Tem passes, they are criminals. The people who pay the bills in this state, the law abiding citizens can’t. Phil and his anti gun comrades will pass gun control laws even though they violate the constitution and article 16 of the VT constitution and they ignore Vermont law passed years ago to stop municipalities from passing a patchwork of confusing gun laws. They will even violate their oaths of office sworn to defend and not harm the Vermont constitution. These nanny state overlords allow repeat criminals to roam the streets and roads by not addressing the real problems in Vermont, the courts. Where is the legislative council on all these unconstitutional laws, where is the supreme court? We know they are all appointed by democrats and they protect democrats. They are all good soldiers in the battle to disarm the people while the criminals run wild and you people vote for them. Thank goodness the governor sees the insanity of this one.

  5. Constitution 101. If we mandate anything perhaps it should Constitutional courses and handouts each morning and evening to our overreaching self-serving self-aggrandized nonrepresentative “representatives” that do everything they can to destroy the Vermont way of life.

    Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution guarantees citizens the right to carry arms to protect themselves and theirs, and others lives, if need be. It’s a natural deterrent to fend off those that the legislature, court system, and states attorneys bend over backwards to protect and coddle (small caps Intentional). Alas, there’s also the U.S. Constitution that grants citizens the right to bear arms. Where do we draw the fine line at Treason. When will the people have had enough? Seems the non-reps are suffering from dementia from lead flakes dropping from the once golden dome. Gawd, when is enough enough? Pray for Vermont and America.

    • I agree, except for “there’s also the U.S. Constitution that grants citizens the right to bear arms.” It doesn’t grant us, it merely affirms/acknowledges our God given right. The right is ours inherently, I can’t be given or granted by any person or government.

  7. Burlington and its DEI Mayor, thinks banning a non issue like ” Guns ” in bars or any other place serving alcohol is a priority, this cesspool, with crime, drugs and all the homelessness flopping on every street corner, I guess this so-called Mayor turns a blind eye to the real issues……………………………Pathetic display of leadership, but hire DEI and this is whay you get !!

    Show me the data, why this is a priority ??