Town Meeting Day voters in Burlington approved three ballot measures designed to tighten control of residents' access to firearms.
Voters decided by a more than two to one margin to ban firearms in businesses with liquor licenses, and to allow police to seize firearms after responding to domestic abuse incidents. The closest vote came for a ballot measure that requires gun owners to store firearms safely.
At polling places on Tuesday, supporters of the measures said they viewed all three as “common sense measures.” Mary Sullivan stood in front of a polling place on Pine Street amid “Vote Yes” signs.
“I think we’re getting a lot of support. A lot of people walking by with thumbs up. So I’m hopeful we’ll get them through," Sullivan said.
The Legislature still needs to approve any changes to the city’s charter.
Ann Braden of Gun Sense Vermont said in a statement, “Today’s vote is a strong message to our state’s leaders that Vermonters support sensible gun laws that will make our communities safer.”
Meanwhile, gun rights activists say they are committed to lobbying lawmakers to reject the changes.
