Welcome to the new Gun Owners of Vermont website! As of the weekend of June 20th, 2009, Gun Owners of Vermont has a new website. The website address remains the same at http://www.gunownersofvermont.org. We have contracted with Radio Free Vermont to create our website for us and take care of our internet presence including maintenance, technical issues, streamlining computerization of administration tasks and assistance with updates. Slowly but surely, we will be streamlining our operation to better serve you and to allow us more time to work harder on gun issues for you! We hope you like the new site and find it easy to use.
Please note that only two membership renewal notices are sent out to each person whose membership is about to expire. If we do not hear back from you, then your name is taken off the GOVT membership roster. If you haven't had a renewal form show up at your doorstep in awhile, then your membership is current or expired. Email ilse.vergi@gmail.com if you are unsure of our current membership status.
Gun Owners of Vermont is having another great raffle this year. It is a Springfield Armory 1911 A1 WW2-edition .45 auto. It is a good gun to have.
To purchase tickets, email GOVT President Ilse Vergi at ilse.vergi@gmail.com or visit the Gun Owners of Vermont booth at the gun show on September 26th-27th at the American Legion on Route 103 in Chester, Vermont.
Tickets are $5.00 each or 6 for $25.00. Good luck!
In 2008, Gun Owners of Vermont accomplished a very big victory for the State of Vermont. It was the defeat of H. 352 and S.152, "An Act Relating to Reducing Lead Hazards in Housing". This was a clever ruse by Attorney General William Sorrell to outlaw all lead in Vermont, claiming it would be for the benefit of Vermont's children. The list included wheel weights, car batteries, solder and virtually all lead products that are used in bullet casting. Never have we heard of any child eating wheel weights or taking apart car batteries to get to the lead. (We do agree with the lead paint issue, for which there are Federal laws already in place regarding the use and removal of lead paint in homes.) This bill also had a very dangerous stipulation included in it stating that if any other New England state, New Jersey or Pennsylvania adopted a lead law, then Vermont would automatically follow suit in 180 days. That means our Legislature and the people of Vermont would have no say in how our State is run. This was a very draconian move by Bill Sorrell. Fortunately, Gun Owners of Vermont was at the state house for every hearing and meeting and this terrible bill was shot down in flames. A very special acknowledgement and thanks goes to the Vermont Traditions Coalition, Greg Costa from the NSSF and Evan Hughes from the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs for sticking together and working with us to get this bill defeated. Another special thanks to the Chairperson, Anne Pugh and the Vice Chair, Anne de la Blanchetai Donahue of the Committee of Human Services for being extremely fair and straightfoward with all of us.
In November of 2008, after a long battle with a serious illness, Gun Owners of Vermont lost one of its dear friends and founding members, Bob Parzych. For many years, he was Vice President and worked diligently toward our goals. Bob was also a great guy and a very funny person, always ready with a joke, even in the worst of situations. He was a huge gun enthusiast with an impressive gun collection. We miss you, Bob!
Gun Owners of Vermont meets every 3rd Saturday of every month. Meetings will be held at Denny's Restaurant on Route 7 South in Rutland. Meetings start promptly at 1:00pm and end at 3pm.
Upcoming Meeting Dates:
July 18,2009
August 15, 2009
Upcoming Events
Updated As Needed
GOVT Officers
President: Ilse Vergi
Vice-President: Karen Kerin
Secretary: Ilse Vergi
Treasurer: Karen Kerin
Elections forthcoming in September 2009. Get involved!
Membership Information
Junior (0-16yrs age) $5.00
Senior $20.00
Spouse $10.00
Club $40.00
Corporate $100.00
Membership includes one-year trial membership in Gun Owners of America.
The Gun Owners Guide to the Laws of Vermont is available directly from Gun Owners of Vermont. Simply mail check or money order for $12.95 plus $2 S/H to Gun Owners of Vermont, PO Box 753, Bellows Falls, VT 05101.
