Vermont House Debates Burlington Charter Change to Ban Guns in Bars Amid Safety Concerns

Vermont lawmakers in the House on Tuesday took up a Burlington charter change that calls for banning guns in bars. It comes following a fatal shooting at a busy Church Street bar last summer and after a similar measure stalled in Montpelier a decade ago. Gun rights groups like the Vermont Traditions Coalition say that while the ban may be well-intentioned, it would have unintended consequences, banning guns in other places that serve alcohol, including restaurants and hotels. “The federation does not support alcohol and guns mixing any more than we support alcohol and driving,” said the group’s Chris Bradley. “If I’m just going to have a hamburger in a location that happens to serve alcohol, and I go in for fries and a Coke, I can’t have the ability to defend myself if I need to?”