Gun Owners of Vermont Analysis: Universal Background Check Legislation
S.31 & S.141 (Act 14, 2015) |
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| Article #1 | Gun Sense Vermont and Michael Bloomberg paid off Vermont legislators to pass many gun control bills in Vermont, but none was more obvious than S.141.
See who received Gun Sense Money and how they voted against the rights of Vermont gun owners! | Detail of S.141 Votes & GunSense Money |
| Article #2 | 01/14/2015: VIDEO
HOW IT ALL BEGAN, S.31
Gun Owners of Vermont analysis of the Universal Background Check legislation. | VIDEO: Watch the GoVT analysis of Gun Sense VT's lies about Universal Background Checks (S.31). |
| Article #3 | 01/13/2015: Gun Owners of Vermont Analysis of the proposed S.31 Universal Background Checks. | Gun Owners of Vermont Analysis of the proposed S.31 Universal Background Checks |
| Article #4 | 01/31/2015: VIDEO:
Gun Owners of Vermont analysis of the Gun Sense VT, "Gun Owners for Universal Background Checks" video. | VIDEO: Watch the GoVT analysis of Gun Sense VT's lies about Universal Background Checks. |
| Article #5 | February 2015: COMPLETE LISTING of ALL Testimony to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on S.31
Select | COMPLETE LISTING of ALL Testimony to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on S.31 |
| Article #6 | 02/06/2015: VIDEO: (part 1)
Summary Judgement: Everytown for gun safety's flawed firearm report in Vermont.
This very interesting video explains how Michael Bloomberg's Everytown slanderous push for S.31! | VIDEO: Watch this great discussion on the Crossfire Arms lawsuit against Michael Bloomberg! |
| Article #7 | 02/06/2015: VIDEO: (part 2)
Summary Judgement: Everytown for gun safety's flawed firearm report in Vermont, part 2.
Attorney Rachel Baird's team including the awesome Edward Peruta, who uses our video analysis in their discussion of the Gun Sense video and the Bloomberg attack on Vermont and Crossfire Arms.
Masaas Ayoob has even expressed interest in this case! | VIDEO: Watch this great discussion on the Crossfire Arms lawsuit against Michael Bloomberg! |
| Article #8 | Feb 11 - Feb 24, 2015: PUBLIC Testimony regarding S.31 (Which turned into the MENTAL HEALTH portion of S.141) | Public Testimony regarding S.31
Documents & Handouts |
| Article #9 | Feb 11 - Feb 24, 2015: WITNESS Testimony regarding S.31 (Which turned into the MENTAL HEALTH portion of S.141) | Witness Testimony regarding S.31
Documents & Handouts |
| Article #10 | 02/13/2015: VIDEO
The most watched testimony by Barbara Scotch (Montpelier) insupport of S.31, the Universal Background Check legislation.
Watch the infamous "you must have something to hide" video! | VIDEO: THE SINGLE MOST WATCHED TESTIMONY FOR S.31! |
| Article #11 | NO PUBLIC DOCUMENTS EXIST ON THE STATE WEBSITE FOR ANY SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEETING AFTER FEBRUARY 16, 2015!
S.141 meetings occurred in March (Wednesday 3/11 through Friday 3/20)
We have contacted the committee secretary on 5/11/15 to inquire why nothing has been put online this session after February.
The House Judiciary Committee site is fully updated with docs, witnessess, handouts, bills, and public comments. | Senate Judiciary Committee public documents |
| Article #12 | If you look carefully, there is ONLY TWO PRO-GUN comments listed on the Senate Health and Welfare committee page! | Where is the MASSIVE outpouring of public comment on S.31??
Not here! |
| Article #13 | Feb 17-24, 2015: Testimony by Dr. Paul Manganiello to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on S.31 | Dr. Paul Manganiello to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on S.31 |
| Article #14 | Feb 20, 2015: Testimony by Ed Cutler of Gun Owners of Vermont AGAINST S.31 (Universal Background Checks) | Gun Owners of Vermont testimony to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on S.31 |
| Article #15 | Ed Cutler, president of Gun Owners of Vermont list of Testimony regarding S.31 (original bill)
Feb 20-24, 2015 | Testimony from Gun Owners of Vermont on S.31 |
| Article #16 | Feb 20, 2015: Testimony by Ann Braden of Gun Sense Vermont FOR S.31 (Universal Background Checks) | Gun Sense Vermont testimony to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on S.31 |
| Article #17 | Feb 20, 2015: Testimony by Dr David Coddaire with Gun Sense Vermont FOR S.31 (Universal Background Checks) | Dr. David Coddaire testimony FOR S.31 |
| Article #18 | Feb 20, 2015: Testimony by Auburn Watersong of Gun Sense Vermont FOR S.31 (Universal Background Checks) | Auburn Watersong testimony to Senate Committee on Health and Welfare on S.31 |
| Article #19 | Senate Judiciary Committee meeting dates details
S.141 meetings occurred in March (Wednesday 3/11 through Friday 3/20)
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
8:30 AM: Should Vermont have a law that would prohibit a person convicted of a violent crime and/or certain drug trafficking offenses from Possessing a Firearm?
Wednesday, March 25, 2015 8:40 AM: S.141 - An act relating to possession of firearms - Review of Senator Zukerman's amendment | Senate Judiciary Committee meeting dates |
| Article #20 | Mar 13, 2015: Explanation of details on S.141 after 2 weeks in the Senate. | Detail of S.141 including how the Senate Judiciary agreed to MANY changes offered by Gun Owners of Vermont. |
| Article #21 | S.141 Historical Status
Click on the DETAILED STATUS and WITNESSES tabs to get all the details of when/how the bill moved and the names and organizations of those who testified for and against the bill. | S.141 History |
| Article #22 | 03/21/2015: VIDEO:
Gun Owners of Vermont: Evidence that Gun Sense VT is Not Grassroots!
GunSense Vermont lobbyist tells the Senate Judiary Committee on March 19, 2015, that they need to check with their "national expertise", NOT Ann Braden who actually HIRED them and was sitting beside him in the committee room! | VIDEO: Evidence that Gun Sense VT is Not Grassroots! |
| Article #23 | Listing of People who testified on S.141 in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But nowhere can found their ACTUAL TESTIMONY!
Why is this not available? | S.141 Senate Judiciary Committee Testimony Listing |
| Article #24 | S.141 in House Judiciary Committee (Documents & Handouts)
Includes: Drafts, Summaries, Amendments, Public Comments and Witness Testimony | S.141 House Judiciary Committee (COMPLETE List of Documents & Handouts) |
| Article #25 | COMPLETE LISTING of ALL Testimony For & Against S.141 in the HOUSE JUDICIARY Committee! | COMPLETE LISTING of ALL Testimony |
| Article #26 | Laurie Emerson, Executive Director NAMI Vermont testifies that S.141 will:
1. Individuals may not seek treatment if they
think that their names will go on a “Criminal Background Check System”.
2. NAMI strongly advocates that people with mental illnesses not be stigmatized and subjected
to discrimination by being labeled “criminal” or “violent”. | Laurie Emerson, Executive Director
NAMI Vermont testimony Apr 6, 2015 |
| Article #27 | Vermont VFW Commander, Brenda Cruikshank spoke on S.141 on April 7, 2015.
Her testimony was disjointed and it appeared that she was NOT trying to defend veterans rights but actually state that the bill doesn't go far enough in regards to PTSD, and she threw vets under the bus.
Her testimony indicated she thinks "adjudicated" should INCLUDE military dishonorable discharges for mental health reasons and that S.141 does not go far enough.
She says PTSD also includes people who are not in the military (car accidents, civilians in combat zones, etc) and thinks many people have not been "treated" and SHOULD be reported to the State (Feds). | AUDIO: How do you interpret the testimony of the VFW?
Quote: "There is a huge population that should have been adjudicated, but aren't." |
| Article #28 | Vermont Traditions Coalition: Questions for the research on federal grant monies and S.141 . | S.141: Testimony by Bill Moore, Firearms Policy Analyst for Vermont Traditions Coalition |
| Article #29 | Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs position: S.141 is a solution in search of a problem. | S.141: Testimony Chris Bradley, Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs |
| Article #30 | Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs Data: Murder Rates in 2010 | S.141: Vermont Lowest Gun Murders Chris Bradley |
| Article #31 | Gun Owners of Vermont: S.141: Domestic Homocide Trends in Vermont | Domestic Homocide Trends in Vermont Chart |
| Article #32 | S.141: Testimony Ed Cutler | S.141: Testimony Ed Cutler |
| Article #33 | Testimony Ed Paquin: Executive Director, DRVT (Disability Rights Vermont) explains his case that S.141 might "reinforce the stigma of mental illness or create an environment that will discourage people in mental health crises from seeking treatment."
"Setting aside that there is a misplaced mythology about the propensity towards violence of people with mental health issues, if the legislature sees wisdom in participating in enforcement
of the federal firearms ban through the background check system, it should condition its participation on assessment of an individual's actual danger rather than on discrimination based on the individual's having a disability or particular diagnosis. Thus DRVT would point to two key parts of S.141:
• In sections relating to reporting of people found to be "in need of treatment", those who
are found to be so under the definition in 18 V.S.A. §7101(17)(B)ii should be excluded as
they have not been explicitly been found to be a danger to others nor suicidal.
• In Section 7. regarding "relief from disability" DRVT believes that the opportunity to
petition should be tied to the abatement of danger rather than an arbitrary time frame
and thus would suggest that individuals be afforded the right to petition when no longer
subject to an order of hospitalization or an order of non-hospitalization, in other words
when no longer "in need of treatment.
In addition to these areas, DRVT would support the suggestions made by Representative
Donahue in the eight points presented in her testimony submitted on April 8, 2015. These points offer the mechanics by which S.141 could be modified to meet its goals without creating a structure based more of stigma and discrimination than on a practical sense of how to protect the public.
Of course, the Committee IGNORED THESE POINTS. | Testimony Ed Paquin: Executive Director, DRVT (Disability Rights Vermont) |
| Article #34 | S.141 testimony included lies that the federal government is "not doing their jobs" in prosecuting felons for firearm possession in Vermont!
Capt: Scott Tucker (Rutland City Police Department) on behalf of the Vermont Police Association | We recognize that federal prosecutors are often very busy, and, sometimes decline to prosecute gun-related crimes.
Without trying to solve That issue, or blaming others for non-prosecution. why not allow a similar state prosecution
when the circumstances present themselves? |
| Article #35 | Testimony by Auburn Watersong using "statistics" from the radical anti-gun "Violence Policy Center" and says passing S.141 will "actually prevent half of next year’s homicides from occurring at all..."
"The Vermont Council on Domestic Violence opposes the requirement of notice served according to Vermont Rules of Civil
Procedure prior to sale of firearms relinquished pursuant to a relief from abuse order."
What that means is that any firearms illegally confiscated under a Temporary Relief from Abuse Order (2014 H.735) will be sold without reasonable attempt to notify the accused of the sale of his firearms.
H.735 (Act 191) was a firearms confiscation act passed in 2014. The purpose of that bill was to confiscate firearms and be able to sell them for profit to the state. | Testimony by Auburn Watersong 4/10/15 |
| Article #36 | To show the extreme outrageousness of the "testimony" given by "experts", here is a "piece" submitted by Laurie Emerson saying that evidence points to 9%of American adults are violent people with access to guns!
Concidering that there are an estimated 3 million firearms in Vermont, and up to 75% of Vermont homes have firearms, with a population of 625,000 that would mean that there are 56,250 violent armed people in Vermont!!
So, by this logic, if only 10% of those armed Vermonters use their guns for ill, Vermont should be awash in blood and people should be living inside boarded up homes cowering in the dark as roving bands of evil-doers go house to house looking for "tribute."
With a firearm homicide numbers average 2-4 firearms deaths per year, studies like this one are absolute bullshit.
Yet, the Committee takes it as fact and passes S.141 for victims of domestic violence. | Follow-up testimony by Laurie Emerson 4/10/15 |
| Article #37 | S.141: Follow-up Testimony John Koutras | Follow-up Testimony John Koutras |
| Article #38 | Martin LaLonde, House Judiciary Committee member submitted this report: "Guns, Public Health and Mental Health"
THIS IS A RADICAL AND LIBERTY CRUSHING DOCUMENT that is being used for creation of new law in Vermont! | Consortium for Risk-Based Firearm Policy: Guns, Public Health and Mental Health |
| Article #39 | See how Willem Jewett (funded by Gun Sense Vermont) turned on Vermonters and the firearm rights organizations AFTER working out a deal on the mental health portion, when he knew he had the votes to undermine the Relief From Disability process and make it virtually impossible to get off the NICS system after successfully recovering from mental illness!
Basically, saying I'll let you have your zero month waiting period, but I'll make it impossible to win your rights back!
Vindictiveness at it's nastiest! | Vermont Watchdog, By Bruce Parker: Vermont gunners defeat near-permanent gun grab against mentally ill |
| Article #40 | Less than 5% of all violent crime is committed by the mentally ill.
See how the House Judiciary ignored expert testimony to continue Bloomberg-funded assault on the Rights of Vermonters when living with mental illness!
This bill will make people who are in need of mental health wary of seeking treatment!
How is this HELPING Vermonters? | Vermont Watchdog, By Bruce Parker: Stigmatization of mentally ill front and center in Vermont gun control debate |
| Article #41 | How do the anti-gun Representatives and Gun Control radicals push their agenda?
By LYING! | Actual Violent Crime in Vermont for 2013 (FBI) |
| Article #42 | Actual Violent Crime State-by-State for 2013 (FBI) - Vermont is the SAFEST STATE in America! | Violent Crime State-by-State for 2013 (FBI) |
| Article #43 | Legislative Update by Maxine Grad, maxjg@wcvt.com, State Representative, Washington-7
The House Judiciary Committee debated S.141, an act relating to firearms…
Read the words from the House Judiciary Chair, then read the analysis of those Bloomberg talking points. | Representative Maxine Grad's public comment on S.141 after passage. |
| Article #44 | 04/28/2015: GUNS.COM by Chris Eger
This article explains the amount of money GunSense and Bloomberg threw at passing gun control in Vermont.
It also described OUR organization as "the grassroots Gun Owners of Vermont…" | Gun control groups outspend NRA 5 to 1 in Vermont, lose on background checks |
| Article #45 | 06/02/2015: VIDEO:
Watch the lawyer for Crossfire Arms, Attorney Rachel Baird, being admitted to the Vermont District Court on June 2, 2015.
She and her team will be defending Crossfire Arms against Michael Bloomberg's Everytown slander campaign in Vermont. | Watch Attorney Rachel Baird being admitted to the Vermont District Court on June 2, 2015. |
| Article #46 | 09/04/2015: REVELATION: GunSense insider publicly admits that BLOOMBERG FUNDED GUNSENSE'S LOBBYIST in Montpelier!
Written by Eric Brattstrom
To The Editor:
"To go to great lengths "proving" that Gun Sense Vermont is not a grassroots movement, as an "In My View" in last week's Valley Reporter stated, is at best misleading. My wife and I were a part of one of Gun Sense Vermont's first meetings two years ago in a Montpelier garage. There were only a dozen or so of us at that gathering, but the movement, under the guidance of Ann Braden, soon grew to several thousand. During that year, 26 vigils were held throughout the state. No one had any idea of where things would end up without legal help. So Adam Necrason was recruited, on a pro bono basis, to help out. Last winter, Necrason helped Braden get an organized citizen lobbyist group together."
"Seeing our growth and professionalism, the Bloomberg Foundation lent a hand financially and Necrason became a paid consultant."
So, not only is GunSense funded by Bloomberg (which Ann Braden DENIED dozens of times including in TESTIMONY in the HOUSE and SENATE COMMITTEES!), but the NECRASON GROUP gave FREE lobbying work to UNDERMINE THE RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING VERMONTERS!
BOTH ARE REPREHENSIBLE! | ‘Misleading’ Written by Eric Brattstrom (Gun Sense VT founding member |
| Article #47 | 10/27/2015: USA Today - "Millions of firearms records languish at National Tracing Center"
HERE IS THE REGISTRY THAT WE HAVE WARNED YOU ABOUT!
The federal government DOES have your firearm information!
Nothing is stopping them… | "Millions of firearms records languish at National Tracing Center" |
| Article #48 | A compiled list of over 100 Michael Bloomberg-related anti-rights and Universal Background Check news articles" | "Bloomberg & UBCs News Articles" |
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Last Updated: 05/03/2023 |
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