W A R N I N G !

According to testimony at the Vermont Statehouse, almost 100,000 people are prohibited from possessing firearms or ammunition.

1 OUT OF 6 OF YOU ARE PROHIBITED!

YOU MIGHT BE ONE OF THEM!

Vermont law enforcement is presently enforcing Federal gun laws. They are doing so without Legislative authorization! They are enforcing something that is not against the law by State law!

If you are one of these classes of people you cannot possess a firearm or ammunition and you will be going to Federal prison for ten years!

  • A convicted felon or anybody facing a felony charge.
    •

A felon is not only a murderer, mugger or thief, but by Vermont statute, includes anyone who bounced a check over twenty dollars even if it was 40 years ago.

  • Fugitive from justice.

Have an unpaid parking ticket? You are fugitive and you can spend 10 years in Federal prison.
  • Drug user or addict.

If you have glaucoma or cancer and are arrested for smoking and/or growing marijuana, even if you are not convicted of anything and you have even a single bullet, you can go to Federal prison for 10 years!
  • Non-immigrant aliens.

If you are a resident alien and you have a firearm, you go to prison for 10 years or face deportation. If you are a resident alien, you have no right to a firearm!
  • Mental defectives or persons committed at any time to a mental institution.

Anyone who has a nervous breakdown and commits himself or herself to any institution is barred from owning firearms or ammo for the rest of their life.
  • People who have formally given up their U.S. citizenship.

Did you give up your citizenship in the 60’s? Or since then?
  • People who have been dishonorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces.

Gone AWOL? Show up late for boot camp? Accidentally hit an officer? Disobey an order? Refuse to serve under UN or NATO command? There are hundreds of reasons that will get you discharged dishonorably.
  • Anyone convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence and anyone with a simple restraining order.

This bars you from owning or possessing a firearm or ammo for the rest of your life! A vindictive spouse or partner could cost you your guns! By State statute, all your spouse or partner has to do is say they’re afraid of you in front of a judge and you are barred forever from owning a firearm. In this day and age, any lawyer handling a divorce case will tell their client to issue a restraining order against their spouse.
  • If you give or sell a handgun or ammo to someone under 18, including your children and grandchildren.
  • Driving by a school with a firearm.
If you drive within 1000 feet of a school zone, you are in violation of Federal law, even if you are only on your way to work or going hunting.

The flyer put out by the Vermont State Police says that they will enforce these laws with NO EXCEPTIONS and no second chances.

As examples:

Dan Ehlers of Barnet has recently been arrested for lying on his ATF background check when trying to purchase a firearm. He had a trial pending on a marijuana charge. Although he has not been tried yet for that charge, he has been convicted on the resulting firearm charge, and faces a possible sentence of 10 years in Federal prison and $250,000 fine. Whatever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"?

Steven Dodge was arrested while travelling with 3 other individuals, 2 of whom had firearms. Both of his armed companions had handgun permits. Dodge was not in possession of a firearm or any ammunition, but was merely in the presence of firearms. Being one of the "prohibited" persons – he was arrested and is now spending 2 years in prison.

Thomas Brennan, another "prohibited person", was arrested for the possession of ammunition. Twenty-three rounds of 38-caliber handgun ammunition were found in his car. He is now in prison for the mere possession of ammunition.


Are you next? There are literally thousands of reasons why they can arrest you under Federal laws. We believe that Vermont law enforcement should not be enforcing these. The Vermont Constitution Chapter 1 Article 5th states that Vermont law enforcement can only enforce Vermont law … not Federal law.

The Gun Owners of Vermont is working right now in the legislature to stop the State Police from enforcing these unconstitutional laws and we need your help. Please call the State House at 800-322-5616 and leave a message for Representative Steve Adams, Chair of the Fish & Wildlife Committee, telling him that you want hearings on Project Safe Vermont as soon as possible. Please call and have your friends and family call also. Help keep our beautiful State free.

If your Representative is: Larson of Burlington, Audette of South Burlington, Brown of Walden, Houston of Ferrisburg, Hummell of Underhill, Miller of Shaftsbury, Sheltra of Derby, or Smith of Morristown, call them at 800-322-5616 and tell them you want hearings.

For additional information, contact Ed Cutler at 802-463-9026 weeknights between 6 and 9pm. We need to work together on this –immediately-.
Gun advocates concerned by federal program
"MONTPELIER - Federal officials insisted Friday that a federal program to combat illegal gun possession was not an effort to crack down on law-abiding hunters or gun owners who might be technically in violation."
Long-anticipated Washington Post article finally goes to print ...
Only inaccuracy found so far ... Monty was not at the 1998 meeting.
"On Gun Control, Dean Aims for the Center"

By Jonathan Finer
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 9, 2004; Page A01

"BARRE, Vt. -- It was a brisk winter evening outside the Elks Lodge here on Dec. 2, 1998, but inside, Gregory Costa was on the hot seat. Angry members of Vermont's two largest gun rights groups had a pointed question for the National Rifle Association's state representative: Why did he go against the wishes of many of them and endorse Howard Dean for governor? "He got a real hard time that night," said Monty Butterfield, president of Gun Owners of Vermont, who was at the meeting. "People just felt that Costa hadn't listened, that Howard Dean was not the supporter of gun rights or the friend of sportsmen that the NRA seemed to think he was." Click here for full story
Burlington Free Press  - October 11, 2003

Dean Not for Gun Rights

Sam Hemingway’s article about Gov. Dean’s views on firearms issues (Sept. 28) is notable mainly for what the writer missed.

True, Dean did not openly support any new state gun control measures. But when repeatedly queried by Gun Owners of Vermont, the state’s leading gun rights organization, he refused to take a position on the key constitutional question: does the Second Amendment confirm an individual right to keep and bear arms?

Dean also refused our entreaties to declare that Montpelier’s proposed gun control ordinance was a clear violation of the corresponding provision of the Vermont Constitution, Article 16. He refused to advise legislative leaders that he would veto a bill to approve the unconstitutional Montpelier ordinance. He grossly mismanaged the state’s enforcement of the Brady waiting period act.

Hemingway also did not inform readers that although the NRA endorsed Dean in 2000, it did so over the strong objection of its own Vermont advisory group. (The NRA does not have official state membership groups; all its endorsement decisions are made by operatives in Fairfax VA.)

The membership-based Gun Owners of Vermont strongly opposed Dean in the 1998 and 2000 campaigns, knowing that he was totally untrustworthy on firearms rights issues.

Howard Dean has never shown a principled position in favor of firearms rights. He can’t be trusted on this issue.

If friends of the Second Amendment are looking for a candidate to take a stand for firearms rights, they will have to keep on looking.

Monty Butterfield
North Clarendon

The writer is president of Gun Owners of Vermont.
Leahy Supports Assault Weapons Ban
"I believe the assault weapons ban is a step to take to make our streets safer."

 
In a letter dated July 31st to GOVT member Karen Kerin, Senator Patrick Leahy states that the right of the people to keep and bear arms is an issue that "we agree to disagree on". Senator Leahy calls himself a "gun owner" and hypocritically states that "I oppose any restrictions on firearms that unduly infringe on an individual's right to bear arms."


"Both the oligarch and Tyrant mistrust the people, and therefore deprive them of arms." --Aristotle

Firearms Issues Forum
As it does in each election year, Ethan Allen Institute along with Gun Owners of Vermont, Hunters-Anglers-Trappers (HAT), and other sportsmen's organizations, will cosponsor an educational forum for candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor, and Lt. Governor. This year's event will be held Saturday, August 28, at the Manchester Rod & Gun Club, 1:00-4:00. The event will feature a discussion on "Project Safe Vermont". The Club is in Dana Thompson Park about two miles north of Manchester Center on Route 30.


New Hampshire Ends
Project Safe!
Council votes unanimously to stop NH's participation in Federal program

Following is a letter to GOVT's Karen Kerin to Elbert Bicknell (Bick)
who was instrumental in making this happen ...
 

Hi Bick,

On behalf of the many law abiding gun owners, thank you for showing what one honest republican of courage can do to defend our liberties.  I just heard that you cut the budget for your states attorneys if they are participating in the "project safe streets/safe neighborhoods".  I salute you as do my fellow members of Gun Owners of Vermont.  I would love to see a copy of the legislation and an account of the shocked states attorneys.

As you know, I am running for Attorney General here in Vermont in large part because our incumbent, William Sorrel, secured $300,000 for two anti gun groups and initiated the effort for "project safe streets/safe neighborhoods" in Vermont.  Worse, he arranged for court records to be provided to the FBI / BATF people to facilitate prosecutorial discretion by the Vermont U.S. Attorney.  What makes this so eggregious is our Vermont Constitution, Article 16 forbids any gun laws and that has been sustained by the Vermont Supreme Court on at least two seperate ocassions.  Our legislature has prevented municipalities from including gun control in their charters and the legislature has maintained our strerling record as the state that has never had a gun law.  The result, of course, is we have the lowest violent crime rate in the nation and in fact in the world.  We are working hard to get Mr. Sorrel out owing to his sneaky assault on our law.  There is no room in Vermont government for those who do not support the rule of law, most especially an attorney general.

Bick, I am letting a lot of Vermont legislators knopw what you have accomplished and I hope it will give them the courage to stand up and do as you did to end the erosion of our fundamental rights.  As many of us say, "what do they not understand about the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed?"

I also heard you are meeting with some of the White House advisors to move them back to republican ideals on the gun issue.  That is a wonderful and noble effort, especially in these times of terrorists and violence.  Our best protection against all forms of brigandage is an armed citizenry, or as the founders put it in the second amendment, the "militia", the pseudonym for the people.

Again, congratulations and thank you for your service to liberty, my friend.

Karen Kerin
F&W Director Just Doesn't Get It...
GOVT Members Take Laroche To Task At F&W Deer Heard Meeting
For F&W's Participation In Project Safe Vermont & Operation Matrix

From: Wayne Laroche [mailto:wayne.laroche@anr.state.vt.us]
Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2004 2:59 PM
To: Clint Gray (E-mail); managingeditor@outdoorsmagazine.net; Sam Lang; Sbmcvt@aol.com; Henry Holmes (E-mail); Evan Hughes (E-mail); Ed Gallo; editor@outdoorsmagazine.net
Subject: Schoolgunlaw.doc

Hi folks,
 
At the Brattleboro deer meeting, someone was passing out literature protesting some perceived "new" initiative to enforce the "school gun law".
 
Attached is Title 13 Chapter 85.
 
I don't see the problem.
 
Wayne

[GOVT President Monty Butterfield comments ... "Look for more on this story in the next GOVT newsletter." }

Senate Narrowly Passes Assault Weapons Ban


Citizen Disarmament in D.C.
For nearly 30 years, the D.C. government has conducted a public policy experiment based on the theory that if you deprive citizens of their constitutional right to keep and bear arms, you`ll reduce crime. Two weeks ago, federal district court judge Reggie Walton, a George W. Bush appointee, ruled that that experiment should continue. In his decision in Seegars v. Ashcroft, et al., Judge Walton rejected a Second Amendment challenge to the District`s comprehensive gun ban.

ABC News' "20/20" Reporter John Stossel Destroys The Media-Fed Myth That Guns are Bad ... On Prime Time TV
"The Centers for Disease Control recently completed a review of studies of various types of gun control: background checks, waiting periods, bans on certain guns and ammunition. It could not document that these rules have reduced violent crime."

The "Good" News, The Bad News and The Truth About Concealed Carry Permits
Aaron Zelman, Executive Director, Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership, explains how concealed carry permits subordinate self defense to government control in this revealing article.

Second Amendment Sisters Plan Mother's Day Rally In Washington D.C.
Second Amendment Sisters, ther nation's most prominent womens' pro-firearms organization is sponsoring the "S.A.F.E.R." Second Amendment Freedoms for Everybody Rally on Mother's Day (May 9th) in Washington D.C.

Erasing a Clinton Legacy
Rolling back antigun regs. Editorial by National Review's David Kopel


Newsom Wins One!
First Amendment rights and Second Amendment values won a big victory and political correctness suffered a harsh defeat ...

In the case of Newsom v. Albermarle County School Board the Fourth Circuit ruled 3-0 in favor of a public-school student's First Amendment right to wear a shirt from an NRA shooting-sports camp. The unanimous panel rejected the school's preposterous argument that banning the shirt was necessary
for school safety.

Ohio Becomes 37th Right-To-Carry State!
After a decade-long effort, law-abiding citizens of Ohio will now be able to legally carry a firearm for protection of themselves and their loved ones. On January 8, Governor Bob Taft (R) signed legislation making Ohio the 37th Right-to-Carry (RTC) state.

According to the FBI, on average, Right-to-Carry states have a 24% lower violent crime rate than states without the self-protection law. In 2003, Right-to-Carry laws were enacted in New Mexico, Colorado, Minnesota, and Missouri.

Gun rights are at stake
Legislation could be used to target law-abiding citizens.
by Alan Gottlieb, Chairman of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms.
Click here for the full story from USA Today

Maryland Lawmakers Propose State Ban on Semiautomatic Rifles
 
(Source: Million Mom March Dec. 2, 2003) -- Just in case the federal ban on military-style semiautomatic rifles is not renewed, Maryland officials are taking steps to prohibit the weapons locally, the Associated Press reported Dec. 1.

"I doubt very much that Congress will reauthorize the federal ban," said Delegate Neil Quinter (D-Howard County).

Quinter and state Sen. Rob Garagiola (D-Montgomery County) will be introducing companion bills in the legislative session that begins in January to ban semiautomatic rifles and shotguns.

"They are especially deadly and are designed for inflicting lethal harm on a large number of people at once," Quinter said.

However, getting the assault-weapons bill passed in the state General Assembly could be challenging. And even if the bill makes it through the legislature, Maryland Gov. Robert Ehrlich Jr. said he would veto it.

"[Ehrlich] believes that a so-called assault weapons ban is a folly. Assault weapons are not used in crimes in Maryland," said Paul Schurick, communications director for Ehrlich. "The governor has made it clear to the few legislators that have raised this issue that he will not support any legislation to ban the weapons."
"How is it possible that the U.S. Supreme Court is unwilling to reaffirm the Bill of Rights as individual rights when the clear history of the Bill of Rights was in response to fears of government diminishing individual rights?"  - GOVT's Karen Kerin

Greg Costa Leaves NRA ... Forms Lobbying Firm
(Following forwarded to us by Alan Nass. Source believed to be NRA news)

This remains to be seen if it is indeed good news.

"Greg Costa, the NRA-ILA State Liaison for Vermont, has left employment with NRA-ILA to form his own consulting and lobbying firm. There is no cause for concern Vermont does not have representation, for Keith Wood has been named as the as NRA-ILA's Lobbyist-of-Record in Vermont.
 
In communications for some period of time with Keith it is clear he is smart and a quick study. Greg has informed Keith well on Vermont
and its political terrain. In addition, Greg has been working with members of the legislature this year to follow the issues of importance to NRA and its membership.
 
This was a well planned transition, for NRA-ILA has known for a period of months Greg was leaving to form his own lobbying firm. Greg's lobbying duties for new clients will keep him working in Vermont on gun rights issues. This is of great importance in the maintaining of continuity of representation in Montpelier."
 
U.S. Supreme Court Refuses To Hear Silveira v. Lockyer
Supreme Court sidesteps politically charged California gun rights case
Click Here For Full Story

Homeowner charged after shooting intruder
Protects family but suburban town prohibits possession of handguns
This is an outrage! No right to self defense? Call 911 instead?!?
Police chief says that town residents have reacted favorably!?!
"Wilmette residents are much safer without a handgun in their homes"
Right-To-Carry Victory In New Mexico
 
In a tremendous victory for New Mexico`s law-abiding citizens, the State Supreme Court ruled this week that the Right-to-Carry law is valid under the state constitution. The Court denied gun control advocates` petition to have the Act declared unconstitutional, and refused to issue a stay preventing the Department of Public Safety from implementing the law and issuing permits. The Court will provide a written opinion at a later date. Special thanks go out to bill sponsors Sen. Shannon Robinson (D-Albuquerque) and John Heaton (D-Carlsbad) for their efforts to make Right-to-Carry a reality in New Mexico, as well as to Governor Bill Richardson (D) for signing this important bill into law. For information on applying for a Right- to-Carry license, please visit www.dps.nm.org.