Drizzt
Member
Sportsmen's federation criticizes Kiss stand on guns
May 31, 2006
BURLINGTON, Vt. --A group of sportsmen is taking Mayor Bob Kiss to task for suggesting that greater handgun control is needed in the state's largest city.
The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs said in a statement that regulation of firearms is the sole province of the Legislature and that's how it should remain.
"The federation takes any discussion on firearms by a government entity as a serious matter," the group said in a statement drafted by vice president Evan Hughes. "We hold that the Legislature has done well in providing good law and sound public policy. Matters regarding the firearm regulatory process should continue to be controlled exclusively by the Vermont Legislature."
The only authority cities and towns have over guns is where they're used, not their possession.
The federation reacted to comments Kiss made last week after a man was seriously injured when he was shot with a handgun, the second such incident in the city this year. He said that warranted a discussion in Burlington about handguns and how easy it is to get one. He said he was not advocating gun control.
"From the perspective of being mayor," he said, "I haven't looked at public safety in terms of whether there are initiatives we would like to take. At least an element of that is that we've had two recent shootings in which handguns were involved."
Kiss said it was possible that Burlington might seek a charter change related to guns or a member of the Legislature from the city might propose a bill. But he said before that could happen the issue needed to be debated by residents.
The Sportsmen's Federation, which wields considerable clout at the Statehouse, said it would actively participate in any debate about guns and would seek to influence any decisions in the Legislature. Ed Cutler, president of Gun Owners of Vermont, said his group probably would challenge any ordinance Burlington might pass.
Despite the likelihood of opposition, Kiss said it was timely to talk about handguns, given the recent shootings. "We could see where that went, without prejudging the process," Kiss said. I don't want to be afraid of bringing up issues that are sensitive."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/ve...ens_federation_criticizes_kiss_stand_on_guns/
May 31, 2006
BURLINGTON, Vt. --A group of sportsmen is taking Mayor Bob Kiss to task for suggesting that greater handgun control is needed in the state's largest city.
The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs said in a statement that regulation of firearms is the sole province of the Legislature and that's how it should remain.
"The federation takes any discussion on firearms by a government entity as a serious matter," the group said in a statement drafted by vice president Evan Hughes. "We hold that the Legislature has done well in providing good law and sound public policy. Matters regarding the firearm regulatory process should continue to be controlled exclusively by the Vermont Legislature."
The only authority cities and towns have over guns is where they're used, not their possession.
The federation reacted to comments Kiss made last week after a man was seriously injured when he was shot with a handgun, the second such incident in the city this year. He said that warranted a discussion in Burlington about handguns and how easy it is to get one. He said he was not advocating gun control.
"From the perspective of being mayor," he said, "I haven't looked at public safety in terms of whether there are initiatives we would like to take. At least an element of that is that we've had two recent shootings in which handguns were involved."
Kiss said it was possible that Burlington might seek a charter change related to guns or a member of the Legislature from the city might propose a bill. But he said before that could happen the issue needed to be debated by residents.
The Sportsmen's Federation, which wields considerable clout at the Statehouse, said it would actively participate in any debate about guns and would seek to influence any decisions in the Legislature. Ed Cutler, president of Gun Owners of Vermont, said his group probably would challenge any ordinance Burlington might pass.
Despite the likelihood of opposition, Kiss said it was timely to talk about handguns, given the recent shootings. "We could see where that went, without prejudging the process," Kiss said. I don't want to be afraid of bringing up issues that are sensitive."
http://www.boston.com/news/local/ve...ens_federation_criticizes_kiss_stand_on_guns/
