Vermont pro-gun rally in Montpelier: More opponents of new gun laws urged to seek office

MONTPELIER — John Nagle had a message Saturday afternoon for his fellow pro-gun activists: Step up and run for office.

"We've got to stop being quiet," the Colchester resident said to the crowd of camouflage- and orange-clad people who braved icy rain and sleet to rally on the steps of the Statehouse, where three days earlier Gov. Phil Scott signed three bills tightening Vermont's gun laws.

Several other speakers said they would be challenging sitting legislators, even in Democratic strongholds like Chittenden County, or encouraged others to do so as the state's gun activists turn their attention to long-term strategy.

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Saturday's rally was one of several gun advocacy events planned to be held at state capitols across the country.

"Three days ago, on these steps, we were betrayed," Nagle said, clad in a dark red T-shirt bearing the image of a firearm and the slogan 'I will not comply' over camouflage-printed long sleeves. "We were promised no new gun laws."

Conservatives, he said, have been hiding in the shadows.

"This is an intellectual battle, and we need to come out as the winners," he said. "No more compromise—we vote them out."

Many of the signs and speakers aimed their ire at Scott, a Republican.

Robert Kaplan, a Burlington lawyer who is spearheading an effort to challenge the state's new gun laws in the courts, called on the Vermont Republican Party to denounce Scott, referring to him as a "Trojan horse governor."

Kaplan told the crowd that he couldn't share much information about the court case. Activists have raised over $20,000 to support the legal challenge.

"We are in a war for the future of Vermont. Will we be the Vermont of Ethan Allen or the Vermont of Michael Bloomberg?" he said, referring to the New York City billionaire who has donated extensively to support gun-control efforts.

The crowd broke out into chants of "Dump Phil Scott" as Deb Billado, the chairwoman of the Vermont Republican Party, got up to speak, telling her that they would not support Scott as the Republican nominee for governor.

"It’s everyone’s choice to take back to the polls," she told the crowd. "I don’t pick winners or losers."

Billado did not directly criticize Scott, but emphasized the party is "committed without reservation to personal liberty," including the right to keep and bear arms.

"We're here to help you win," she said, challenging he crowd to help ensure Republicans have a candidate running for all 180 seats in the Legislature--a tall order for the state party, which has often struggled to recruit challengers. The Democratic Party comfortably controls both houses of the state legislature.

Contact Jess Aloe at 802-660-1874 or jaloe@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @jess_aloe