Rally for Universal Background Checks Showcases Widespread Support

 Rally Set for 5 p.m. August 4, 2016 on the Statehouse Steps

Montpelier, VT— Thursday, August 4th's rally for Universal Background Checks marks the continued momentum toward keeping guns out of the hands of known criminals and people tragically deemed dangerously ill. Recent, independent polling shows 89% of Vermonters and 82% of Vermont gun owners support universal background checks for all gun purchases.[1]

All major Democratic candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, as well as Mayor Miro Weinberger, will speak at the rally in support. Organizational sponsors include: Senator Phil Baruth and Senator Michael Sirotkin, GunSenseVT, Voices for Vermont’s Children, Vermont Network Against Sexual and Domestic Violence, the Vermont Psychiatric Association, the Board of the Vermont Mental Health Association, and KidSafe Collaborative.

The following legislators are co-sponsoring the event: Senate Pro-Tem John Campbell, Senator Dick McCormack, Senator Ann Cummings, Senator Anthony Pollina, Rep. Chris Pearson, Rep. Helen Head, Rep. Maida Townsend, Rep. Mike Yantachka, Rep. Joanna Cole, Rep. Diana Gonzales, Rep. Steve Berry, Rep. Tim Briglin, and Rep. Patti Komline.

“It is heartening to see our state’s political leaders standing with the overwhelmingly strong public opinion in favor of common sense action to keep guns out of the wrong hands,” said Ann Braden, president of GunSenseVT, one of the organizational sponsors behind the event. “The continued toll of senseless gun violence in our country is a call to action for our leaders to close the loopholes in the background check law that give dangerous people too easy access to guns,” she said. 

The rally will last from 5pm – 7pm tomorrow on the Statehouse steps.

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