By Bruce Parker / January 20, 2015
GUN CHECKS UNNECESSARY: Democratic state Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, says criminal background checks for gun purchases are most likely unnecessary and unconstitutional in Vermont.
MONTPELIER, Vt. — An influential Democratic state senator says he’s unlikely to support a bill requiring background checks on gun purchases because the checks are unnecessary and unconstitutional in Vermont.
“I need to be convinced that Vermont needs a background check. I doubt it’s necessary,” state Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, told Vermont Watchdog.
The statement echoes comments made by Gov. Peter Shumlin during the weekend.
“My view on gun laws is that Vermont has the guns laws right now that serve us well. I want to keep the ones we got in place, I don’t think we need new laws,” Shumlin told ABC Local 22 at the Yankee Sportsman’s Classic in Essex Junction.
While Vermont has among the highest gun ownership per capita, recent FBI crime statistics show the state is the safest in the nation. In 2013, the Green Mountain State had 115 violent crimes per 100,000 residents, well below the national average of 368 violent crimes for every 100,000 people.
Sears, who is chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said background checks don’t pass the common sense test.
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