As a citizen of Bristol in Addison County, I sent this letter to my Vermont representatives. I’m sick and tired, like many of you are, of no one doing anything about this or being too timid to speak out. Someone has to.
Dear……,
I’m contacting you because you represent the district I live in.
Please introduce and/or support legislation this session to eliminate the sale and possession of assault weapons in Vermont NOW!!! It’s only a matter of time before another demented or angry gun owner or kid decides to wreak havoc in the schools, the streets, in public buildings, or wherever. Only a matter of time! We’re not talking about guns used for hunting or self protection here, just the kinds of arms designed to kill people that never should have been allowed to be owned in the first place! This is common sense!
Please don’t use the same old “mental illness” NRA talking point excuse. These guns are lethal and need to be controlled. Anyone who possesses one can and will use it eventually to do harm. Look at what New York and Connecticut have done — violent gun crime has decreased in the past five years due to stronger regulations there. Don’t wait until there is a school shooting like almost happened at Fair Haven High the other day after the recent Florida shooting (the 30th or so since the beginning of the year!). I know these are hard words, but if you don’t stand up and speak out, the Vermont State Legislature and Gov. Scott will be held accountable, if something happens. Oh, and if Scott vetoes the bill, override it by a wide margin. This has to happen state by state, since the NRA ( a terrorist organization) owns the GOP in Congress, and it will never happen on a national level until the Democrats take back the country. Our government needs to protect its citizens, and public safety should trump gun ownership.
Thank you for your service.
Bruce Acciavatti
Bristol