On April 3, a coalition of service industry professionals, lawmakers, and gun safety advocates gathered at the Vermont State House to urge the Legislature to approve Burlington’s charter change (S.131), which would ban guns in bars and was overwhelmingly supported by 86.6% of Burlington voters in 2025. Advocates are also calling for the passage of H.45, which would establish a statewide prohibition on firearms in bars.
Senate President pro tem Phil Baruth underscored the need for action, pointing to both common-sense gun safety principles and real-life tragedies that have occurred in Vermont.
“As the NRA safety course teaches, guns and alcohol don’t mix. Burlington has already experienced a brutal shooting outside a bar, with someone dying and bleeding out on Church Street. In this era of heightened public safety concerns—raised by the governor and others—we’re simply saying: let’s keep guns out of bars. It’s common sense.”
Service industry professionals spoke about the risks posed by firearms in nightlife settings and the urgent need for legislative action.
“As a bar manager, my focus is making sure people enjoy their night out and get home safe. But bartenders and bouncers are not cops—we’re not trained to enforce gun restrictions. Guns and alcohol don’t mix. Alcohol impairs judgment, and a firearm only increases the risk of violence. That’s a fact. Burlington voters passed this charter change in 2014, and we’ve waited long enough for the Legislature to act,” said Max Pogacar, bar manager at Frankie’s in Burlington.
Burlington City Councilor Becca Brown McKnight reinforced the widespread support for the measure and called on lawmakers to act.
“Nearly 90% of Burlington voters—Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and Progressives—sent a message loud and clear that guns don’t belong in bars. This is not a red state versus blue state issue; it’s a human safety issue,” said McKnight. “Freedom is the ability to go to work or enjoy a night out and know you’ll get home safely. The Legislature has the opportunity to show courage, stand with the people of Vermont, and enact this common-sense gun safety law—not just for Burlington, but across the state.”
Business owners also spoke about the dangers of mixing firearms with alcohol.
“As a bar owner, my number one priority is the safety of my employees and patrons,” said Mike Dunn, owner of T. Ruggs Tavern in Burlington’s Old North End. “My team is often called upon to break up fights or de-escalate situations, but if a gun is involved, the risk of harm increases dramatically. What might normally be resolved with words or security intervention could quickly escalate into something far more dangerous. There is simply no reason for someone to carry a firearm into a bar, and it’s time for the Vermont Legislature to approve Burlington’s charter change and keep guns out of these spaces.”
Jen Kimmich, co-founder of The Alchemist, also shared a deeply personal perspective on the issue.
“We strongly support the banning of guns in bars,” said Kimmich. “Last summer, our friend and beloved community member was killed outside Red Square after being targeted by another bar patron who was carrying a gun. A lot of lives were destroyed that night, including the life of the mother who decided to take that gun out with her.”
Laura Subin, of GunSense Vermont, added, “It’s time for the Vermont Legislature to not only approve this charter change but also extend this vital protection statewide. Our progress on gun safety laws must continue, and we urge lawmakers to prioritize public safety and take immediate action to reduce gun violence across Vermont.”
Advocates emphasized that this is not a political issue but a necessary step to protect Vermont’s hospitality industry, its workers, and the public from preventable violence.
