Local Gun Laws Create Safe Community by Pamela Wheeler

BURLINGTON, VT - Vermont's gun regulations provide easy access to guns and ammunition. To outsiders, this concept may seem dangerous, though according to South Burlington Police Department Sgt. Demore, there are few incidents involving guns. Safer communities rely on the trust and equality among their members, says Demore, which is a theory hard to find in most inner cities.

Burlington's population is roughly 38,000; 17,000 of which are college students, many from out of state. A small city that incorporates this many out of state residents may assume crime and violence, however the nestled hill section of Burlington has little domestic violence. 

Michael Coughlin, Director of Valor Security offices located in the Town Square Mall of Burlington, Vermont, states that based on crime statistics for Chittenden county there have been no gun related injuries or death in the last three years.

“The open carry law empowers the righteous and the wicked alike to be armed,” says Coughlin “the percentage of the non criminal ‘regular citizen’’ out ways the criminal element. The criminal’s ability to be openly and freely armed allows the armed citizen to protect them. Additionally since the criminal may not know who is armed and who is not, and in knowing laws of weapons carry in VT, they may choose not to gamble on the fact that a pending ‘victim’ is or is not armed.”

In the state of Vermont, it is not necessary to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon and it is legal to carry a weapon in motor vehicles as well as on your person with the only exception being state regulated locations such as Educational facilitates and federal property.

“State law indicates to carry an open or concealed weapon on your person or in your vehicle it is recommended that it’s unloaded and out of reach- I have found that ‘interpretation’ of the law varies from county to county and PD to PD ipso facto then it would carry that enforcement of the laws are open to the latter interpretation as well,” says Coughlin.

The cause of most domestic disturbances could drive psychologists wild as there are many factors of influence. According to Demore, alcohol is a common factor but most domestic disputes are driven from long term arguments and miscommunications. Unlike popular movies that depict grocery store robberies and “stick ups”, Vermont natives are unfamiliar with this occurrence. Locations like Springfield, Massachusetts and Hartford, Connecticut ranked numbers 18 and 7 in the top 25 most dangerous cities of all time and experience a much different view on the use of gun violence.

“…In a state such as Massachusetts, the criminal draws very little extra time in sentencing if in the possession of a firearm during a crime; a citizen who illegally posses or carries a fire arm is almost as guilty as the criminal. The criminal knows that he has the advantage over the citizen with very little to lose and may believe that the extra time in sentencing is worth the extra ill gotten gain in using a firearm. Therefore the majority will not be armed, and become vulnerable as victims,” says Coughlin.

BJ’s Hunting and Shooting supply on industrial avenue is a small shop that began in 1983.  Former owner Burke O’Brien stood behind the counter in a black vest, cleaning a large black gun.  When asked about the process to purchasing a gun, he replies, “first thing, you’ve got to be the right age.” He informs that the age minimum for purchasing a long gun, such as a rifle or shotgun, is 18 years old.

“We go through a back ground check and the customer is required to show identification.”

There are different ways for those underage to get experience handling guns; during hunting season, there are youth hunting days which require those under 18 to complete what O’Brien calls a “Hunter Ed Course” to obtain a youth hunting license. Once the license is obtained, minors are allowed to hunt on “youth days”.“You have to use your noggin,” says O’Brien, “some guy came in alone yesterday, had never shot a gun before, his wife had never shot a gun before, and he had nobody to teach him. I wouldn’t sell it to him.”

According to O’Brien, the sale of a gun is at the discretion of the salesman. “If you think someone is sketchy or suspicious it is your responsibility not to sell to them.” The staff at BJ’s Hunting and Shooting supply work closely with the local police departments as well as the FBI to insure the safety of those in the community.

It is not a secret that gun safety in Vermont is not an issue. Burlington Police Department assures that there is not enough of a drive for gun violence to warrant an interview on the topic. O’Brien seems to believe that President Obama is currently driving the gun business; the promises to restrict the ownership of guns used during the presidential campaign have created a high demand while local hunters and gun lovers fight back to protect their right to bear arms.