Leading Democrats in Vermont are close to scrapping a proposed background check requirement for all private gun sales in Vermont.
The requirement is supported by Michael Bloomberg and has come under added scrutiny after his gun control group–Everytown for Gun Safety–was forced to apologize to Crossfire Arms in Mount Holly for listing the gun store as an “unlicensed” Vermont gun seller.
This all took place just days after Breitbart News reported that Everytown allegedly monitored gun purchases in Vermont over a three-month period and found seven people who were barred from gun ownership but tried to buy one online anyway. Everytown’s report raised more questions about the group’s research methods than it did about the need for more background checks.
And now, Vermont Senate President Pro Tempore John Campbell (D-Quechee) says the background check proposal may be scrapped altogether.
According to Valley News, the bill currently under consideration has three parts. One makes it a “state-level crime for convicted felons” to possess a firearm, another seeks to improve reporting of mental illness to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), and a third is a ban on private gun sales via the expansion of background checks.
Campbell indicated that “opposition from the Vermont Association of Chiefs of Police, along with Vermont gun owners and gun rights activists … effectively sank the background checks provision.” Some of his Democrat colleagues suggest the bill will not pass at all unless the background check requirement is removed.
Follow AWR Hawkins on Twitter @AWRHawkins. Reach him directly at awrhawkins@breitbart.com.
COMMENTS
Please let us know if you're having issues with commenting.