Mayor Kiss calls for greater gun control

Another controversial issue being addressed by our Burlington mayor…

May 26, 2006

BURLINGTON, Vt. –Mayor Bob Kiss, stepping into sensitive political territory in just his second month in office, responded to a shooting incident in the city by calling for greater gun control.

Kiss distributed to reporters at a news conference to discuss budget issues a news release from the police department about a shooting in the Old North End of the city in which a 22-year-old man was seriously injured by a single gunshot. It was the second such shooting in Burlington this year and Kiss said it demanded his attention.

“I really have concerns in general about handguns and the fact there’s maybe more prevalence in the world to the use of violence,” Kiss said. “I don’t think two events suggest a change, but it’s definitely something we all need to pay attention to in our personal lives and in the life of the city. And I think we can do more around the issue of handguns in particular.”

Gun control traditionally has been a sensitive issue in Vermont, and there are few restrictions. Kiss said he did not want to project an image that the state or its largest city were a convenient place to buy weapons.

“There’s a billboard as you go into Boston now that lists states that contribute to handgun availability in the state of Massachusetts,” Kiss said. “And Vermont is on that list for Massachusetts because it has concerns that we don’t do as much as we could to control the purchase and availability of guns. In the world at large there’s room for Vermont and Burlington to look at the issues of handguns.” — from AP wire

And now from WCAX:

BURLINGTON, Vt. Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss is responding to a shooting incident in the city by calling for greater gun control.

Kiss called a news conference to discuss budget issues.But he opened it by discussing an incident in the city in which a 22-year-old man was seriously injured by a single gunshot.Kiss says he has concerns about handguns and the prevalance of violence.The mayor didn’t offer any specific proposals on what might be done, but he says the public and political officials need to pay attention.

If Mayor Kiss doesn’t think the two events suggest a change, then why is he even mentioning this issue? Stick to the main reason why the press conference was called – the budget & our increase to taxpayers. I would much rather like to see him working more on the budget (& addressing the future budgetary problems) & repairing the abundant potholes around town, as I believe that is something that should be at the forefront of the administration’s agenda.

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