Issue Position: Gun Violence

Issue Position

Second Amendment gun rights and common sense measures to reduce gun violence are not mutually exclusive. Vermont has a serious gun violence problem which we must address -- and, we have a hunting culture which must be protected. However, a lack of firearm safety has led to two distinct emergencies in our state. "The majority of Vermont suicide deaths (57%) are the result of firearms, higher than the national average of 50%" (Vermont Suicide Prevention Center). And, The Vermont Domestic Violence Fatality Review Commission Report (2015) reported that "Between 1994 -- 2014 in Vermont, 57% of domestic violence homicides & 77% of the murder/suicides were committed with guns."

I fully support universal background checks, safe storage of firearms, and closing purchasing loopholes such as gun shows. We can have common sense gun safety while protecting the hunting traditions so valued in Vermont. I would like to help build consensus between gun owners and advocates for gun safety. I believe that all community members must work together to ensure that guns are only in safe hands.

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