8/11/2019 Politics and Guns | Vermont Times | Aug. 31, 1994

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P o l i t i c s a n d G u n s

L ast week's announcement of a "Bye Bye Bernie" campaign by a

group calling itself the Vermont Sportsmen's Coalition (VSC),len a lot of people scratching their heads. "Sanders has voted

against hunting while in Congress and he has clearly violated hisoath to uphold the Constitution by voting for gun bans inCongress," reads the group's press release.

Well, fact is thisyear Bernie Sanders has voted for hunting in

the Mojave Desert. TheBern also voted against the Brady Bill whichinstituted a five-day waiting period to purchase a handgun and he's

been very up front about where he stands on assault weapons. He'sagainst 'em.

A lot of sportsmen in Vermont have voted for Sanders. They likehis give 'em hell style. So who is the Vermont Sportsmen's Coali-tion?

Well, it's a new group that's in its first year of existence. Andunlike most other sportsmen's groups, this one is about politics pureand simple and that represents a change for Vermont. The fish andgun club set inthis state has areputationfor being parochial and hasusualiy steered clear of politics. That changed when former Con.gressman Peter Smith flip-flopped on gun control four years ago

and it cost him hisjob. Smith's scalp has apparently emboldenedsome folks.

It's interesting to note that when VSC was just getting startedlast summer it billed itself as a group formed to counteract theanimal rights crowd. A VSC organizing letter send around by VSCsecretary Warner Shedd of East Calais specifically stated thegroup "should focus only on opposing the animal rights/anti-hunt-ingmovement - not on deer management, trout management, gunlaws, walleye management, seasons, baglimits, etc. Theseissuescan

be divisive, but the one thing on which we can ALL agree and uniteis to fight the animal rights zealots."

Well, one year later it turns out gun laws are the number one

focus of the VSC and the political barrel is pointed squarely at OJ'Bernardo. But John CarroU, Sanders' opponent has said he wouldhave voted for the Brady Bill and he's about as much ofa hunter asSanders.

"Bernie's not red, white and blue," says VSC chair Tom Wycoff."He's alight shade of pink."So much for the issues of Vermont sportsmen.

"We think Bernie's doable," says Wycoff. "We think John Carrollstands a very good chance."

The coalition's anti-Bernie stance was taken with the approval of"the steering committee," says Wycoff, not by a vote of the rank and

me members of the groups it claims to represent: the VermontFederationofSportsmen Clubs, the SportingAlliance for Vermont's

Environment, the Vermont Pistol and Rille Association, the N a-tional Rille Association and the Vermont Trappers Association.

"The Vermont Sportsmen's Coalition just might have over-reached themselves pretty badly on this one," says one veteranobserver of the fish and gun crowd.

Courthouse Bash - You've got to give Vmce IUuzzi a little

credit.For guts.

There he was, the black sheep of the Vermont bar ("bar" - agreat word for the lawyer tribe), speakingproudly at the sunspiashed

podium Monday afternoon during the dedication of the new Judge

Edward J. CosteUo Courthouse on Cherry Street - "The Palaceof Justice" as it's dubbed by the members of the barwho walk in and

out through the metal detectors every day. 'jElected to the Vermont Senate in 1980 by the voters ofEssex!

Orleans, Illuzzi's earned the nickname "King of the Kingdom." Aschair of the Senatelnstitutions Committee, he's got the say soon thestate's $65 million capital construction bill. That's why he was onthe program at the courthouse dedication along with GovernorHoward Dean and Chief Justice Fred Allen. Fred and the

Supremes will soon decide Vince's future as a practicing attorney inVermont. Illuzai's license to practice law was suspended a year agoand the Professional Conduct Boardhas recommended he not get it

back.

The Free Press reported Monday morning that the new court-house was still waiting on a big furniture shipment.

So Illuzzi cracked up the blue ribbon audience when he said, "Afew housekeeping measures first. The furniture is in Newport.There was a little typographical error in the capital bill. But as soonas Howard and Bill SoreD come up with the money for Newport,the $500,000 loan, the furniture should be on the way to downtownBurlington. "

By the way, Ho-Ho was looking particularly spiffy at Monday'sdedication ceremony. That's because he was wearing a brand newtan suit and that's worth noting because our governor is anything

but a snappy dresser. What's the story, we asked."Two for $350 (in Boston during the NGA meeting)," answered

Dean. "Anya Rader made me get them. And I had agift certificate.Brooks Brothers on sale," he said with a smile. It's that conservativefiscal policy he stands by. He even wears it.

Media Notes - The revolving door at the Free Press keepsspinning faster than anyone can keep track of. Reporter Andrea

Zentz, a former Montpelier bureau chief, has departed for thewonderful world of public relations. Andy will be working for theVermont Ski Areas Association .... Steve CosteUo (yes, son ofthe late judge) is leaving the editor's post at the Addison Inde-

pendent to become city editor at the Barre/Montpelier TimesArgus .... The Freeps implemented its new layout this week. Thepaper's gone from four little sections to just two. Now if they

could only get the "Jumble" back on the comics page.