It has been 2 1/2 years since we lost our son/stepson in a hunting incident (Not Accident). Our son was shot a few minutes after the legal shooting time. The shooter said he was shooting at a coy dog!! He was convicted of manslaughter and is now in jail after being sentenced to 1 year, but now will be out in 8 months.

In Vermont, if you are convicted of manslaughter it is a felony and you cannot own a firearm. Well guess what, a muzzle loader is not a firearm, and anyone can buy one. I am a life long hunter and don?t want to start anything with the NRA, just want to try to keep our woods safe. But when the NRA put a stop to this bill, I was stunned.

This bill will not hurt anyone other then someone that has been convicted of manslaughter in a hunting incident. If you shoot and kill someone by not knowing your target, careless act, stupid acts and are convicted, I don?t think you have the right to go out and buy a hunting license. This is a privilege not a right. When you take the gun safety course the first thing you learn is to know your target!

In 2005, there were three deaths in this state that never should have happened. The three incidents were a farmer sitting in his tractor, one in his tree stand, and one walking out of the woods after shooting hours. I am hoping to get this bill passed so that these trigger happy idiots cannot buy a hunting license ever again. Last year the court finally held this type of idiot accountable and sentenced them to jail. I was hoping this would help others to stop and think before they just pull that trigger.

To see the bill, visit www.leg.state.vt.us, go to the Legislative Information Database, and search for S.88, "Lifetime Revocation of a Hunting License..." Please check this bill out and let your Senator know you want to see it passed!

Jeff Willett

Williamstown