Vermont: Burlington Charter Change Seeks to Implement Sweeping Gun Free Zones

Dear [Lawmaker],

As a fellow resident of Vermont, I urge you to OPPOSE S.131 in your committee.

This amendment to the City of Burlington's Charter seeks to prohibit the possession of a firearm on any property with a license to sell alcohol. This amendment includes buildings, property, and parking lots owned or controlled by a business with such a license.  If passed, this amendment will violate Vermont's preemption laws and implement roving gun-free zones across the city, entrapping otherwise law-abiding citizens as they travel throughout the city.

Recent data shows that over 95% of mass casualty events occur in "gun-free zones," highlighting the fact that such zones empower criminals to target "soft targets" where law-abiding citizens are disarmed (Please review the 2022 study by Crime Prevention Research Center for specifics). This statistic becomes even more concerning for Burlington, given the city's recent increase in violent crime and lack of police officer staffing. By passing S. 131, Vermont lawmakers would decrease public safety and endanger individuals living in or visiting the Queen City.

This act does nothing to address crime in our state, and only placed law-abiding citizens at greater risk. Again, I urge you to OPPOSE S.131 in your committee.

Thank you for all that you do for our great state.

Sincerely,
______

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