We’ve been documenting Vermont’s Democrat decline for years. More taxes, more regulations, anti-cop, pro-illegal immigrant, and yes, firearms limitations.
In the last few years, Vermont’s Democrat majority has emulated the spleen-venting of their national peers regarding gun policy. They added protective orders (Red Flag Laws) and a magazine size ban and they are back again to try and add a waiting period* – to close the Charleston Loophole, they say.
The Charleston Loophole is a provision in federal law that gives a gun seller discretion on whether to proceed with a sale if the FBI fails to determine within three business days whether a buyer is eligible to purchase a gun.
Democrats have been coming up with ways to disarm law-abiding citizens for decades. They’d be doing it with or without the so-called Charleston Loophole. They want that, which is why the Vermont House just passed S30, a piece of legislation that adds up to a 30-day waiting period when buying a firearm. It also bans firearms possession in hospitals outright, except by police or armed federal officers.
This sort of incrementalism is destined for mission creep.
Here in New Hampshire, the first order of business for Democrat majorities is to ban firearms in whatever parts of the State House they can manage. They’ve tried to ban them at polling places, state buildings, schools, and are adamant about protecting college campus carry bans but the goal is not to reduce crime.
Democrats love crime. So the goal is to get the people used to the idea that their second amendment right to self-defense can be infringed.
That it should be infringed.
The fewer places you can carry and the harder they make it to own or have a firearm, the less likely future generations will embrace the practice.
Vermont as a state used to have a strong pro-gun character, but Democrats have worn it down. The hospital ban is just a step toward a culture of disarmament leading to one where having a firearm is a lot like not embracing vaccine passports or social credit scores (coming soon, if they are left unchecked).
And as with most of the things Democrats want, there’s no evidence the legislated restrictions are needed (more despotic vaporware) or that imposing them will reduce harm. In fact, given that Democrats destroy everything they touch, hospitals in Vermont will become soft targets for shooters.
The Left’s response to the next tragedy will be to ban guns someplace else.
Note: Vermont Gov Scott (R?) vetoed the previous waiting period bill. I suspect the addition of a hospital ban is meant to affect his thoughts this time around.
*Not all transfers are subject to the proposed waiting period.
§
