MONTPELIER, VT – The Vermont chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statement applauding the Vermont Senate for passing a change to the Burlington city charter that would ratify the Burlington voters overwhelmingly support for keeping guns out of bars. Now the measure will go to the House for passage.
“For years, Burlington voters have wanted to keep guns out of our city’s bars, and now we are finally getting the support from our state lawmakers to make that a reality,” said Nancy Harkins, a volunteer with the Vermont chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Guns have no place in bars where alcohol is flowing. It’s long overdue for Burlington to make this change, and we are one step closer to seeing it happen.”
“It’s just common sense that guns and alcohol don’t mix. As a college student, I would feel a lot safer knowing that guns aren’t allowed in bars, and I’m hopeful that soon they won’t be in Burlington,” said Laurel Papera, a volunteer leader with the Champlain College Students Demand Action chapter. “We have been advocating and even voted for this charter change to be realized, and we will continue fighting until it is.”
In March, Burlington voters on Town Meeting day overwhelmingly voted in favor of a charter change that would prohibit guns in bars. Voters also passed a similar measure in 2014 but the state legislature did not take a vote on whether to approve the charter change, so it could not take effect. After a man was shot and killed outside of a bar in Burlington over the summer, gun safety advocates have recommitted to instituting this charter change this year to save lives.
Alcohol is associated with increased risk of aggression, and people under the influence of alcohol are both more likely to be shot and more likely to kill someone else. Nearly half of individuals convicted of homicide were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the homicide.
Vermont gun safety laws rank #17th in the country. Gun violence costs Vermont $953.3 million each year, of which $8.7 million is paid by taxpayers. More information about gun laws in Vermont is here.