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Alyssa Black and her husband Rob Black, testify in favor of a waiting period for firearm purchases on Feb. 28, 2019. Photo by Glenn Russell/VTDigger

IN APRIL 21’S FINAL READING:

Alyssa Black, who riveted the Statehouse last year with her deeply personal testimony in favor of waiting periods for gun purchases, wants to return to the Golden Dome — this time, as a lawmaker.

The Essex Town resident has launched her candidacy in the Chittenden 8-3 District’s Democratic primary, setting up a potentially dramatic general election race with incumbent Rep. Bob Bancroft, R-Westford, one of the House’s most vociferous gun-rights supporters. (Bancroft has yet to announce whether he will seek another term; he could not immediately be reached for comment.)



Black became an advocate following the 2018 suicide of her son Andrew. He had purchased a gun only hours before turning it on himself, and Black firmly believes that a waiting period would have saved Andrew’s life.



But it isn’t the gun issue that has compelled her candidacy. Instead, it’s her antipathy toward Bancroft. “I realized I can’t have this person representing me,” Black said in a phone interview. “In 2018 he ran unopposed. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t unopposed this time.”



She and Bancroft are polar opposites on firearms, but her candidacy is primarily motivated by the Republican’s anti-abortion stance. She was appalled by Bancroft’s actions during last year’s floor debate on H.57, a bill to enshrine reproductive rights in state law. Bancroft obstructed the proceedings with a series of amendments. All were voted down, the bill passed the House overwhelmingly, and ultimately became law.



Bancroft was unopposed in 2018, but that doesn’t mean his seat is safe. He was first elected in 2014, when incumbent Democrat Martha Heath did not seek re-election and turnout was severely depressed by broad disaffection with incumbent Gov. Peter Shumlin. In 2016, Bancroft beat Democratic challenger John Churchman by only 60 votes out of more than 2,500 cast. Black is likely to be a formidable foe, in a year likely to tilt strongly Democratic.



At the very least, the debates should be lively affairs.

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– John Walters, VTDigger political columnist

If you need help, the National Suicide Hotline is available 24 hours a day at 800-273-8255 and the Vermont Crisis Text Line is available at 741741. You can also find local organizations in your area here.

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