[B]ENNINGTON — An organizer of a downtown gun-rights rally, voter registration event and firearm giveaway planned for Saturday said he expects to draw a crowd of at least 1,000.
“The last time we had a rally, we had four days to plan it, and we had hundreds,” said Kevin Hoyt, a Republican running for a seat in the Bennington 2-1 House district. “This time we had weeks and had flyers up and down the state.”
A pro-gun rally here in April, after Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill that tightened the state’s gun control laws, drew well over 300 to the busy Four Corners intersection in Bennington.
The gun giveaway aspect of the planned event sparked a flurry of criticism on social media when a notice was posted on Facebook July 20 by Hoyt. Since then, the owner of a downtown convenience store, Martin’s Mobil, has withdrawn use of his parking lot for the voter registration.
Hoyt said he understands the owner’s concerns about a potential loss of business, and he now plans to set up a registration and voter information table on the lawn in front of the VFW post on North Street.
Among those protesting the gun giveaway was Select Board member Jim Carroll, who was one of several people who voiced complaints or concerns at the convenience store.
However, Carroll said Tuesday that Hoyt and his supporters misunderstood his objections, which were not based on opposition to their right to hold a rally.
“I’m not necessarily opposed to that,” he said. “My motivation in speaking to the [store] owner was that this [gun issues] is like the third rail of politics. I thought it would drive away his customers. And Hoyt was not taking into account what might be the ramifications of it.”
Carroll added, “I think Hoyt was being selfish in promoting his personal agenda and not taking into account the potential negative impact his rally might have on a local business and its employees.”
Vouchers for guns
Hoyt said vouchers for the purchase at a local gun store of an AR-15 Del-Ton carbine and an AR-10 Diamondback 308 will be given to registered voters from the area who attend, or those who sign voter registration papers Saturday, with the names of winners being drawn through a raffle process.
Hoyt said a free ticket with a chance for the AR-15 will be given to any registered voter, while a total of 305 tickets for the AR-10 Diamondback will be given to those donating at least $5 to his campaign for the Legislature.
The two winning tickets will be drawn at the conclusion of the event, which is scheduled to run from 1 to 5 p.m.
Those purchasing the guns will have to comply with background checks and other Vermont and federal regulations.
Hoyt said he’ll also provide information about the AR-15 and other weapons during the rally. He said he hopes to counter the image of such semi-automatic weapons only being used in multiple recent mass shootings.
He also has offered in a Facebook post to debate those issues with Carroll or others on the local cable television network, CAT-TV.
“I’m sorry all you protesters to this rally do not know what this gun is, current gun laws or definitions,” Hoyt stated in a post. “We should be celebrating how SAFE guns are, especially in Vt. You can give up your Rights and Freedoms to liberal hype and fear; but many of us will not.”
Security team provided
Hoyt said he expects the rally to extend along sidewalks from the Depot Street-East Main Street intersection east to the Four Corners, and from there along North Street to at least the VFW post.
He said if it is a very large crowd, participants might also move back and forth through the public parking lot that has entrances on both Depot and North streets, but that space is not considered part of the rally site.
Town Manager Stuart Hurd said Tuesday that use of the public lot for a rally would require permission from the town.
A volunteer group of participants will provide security, Hoyt said, attempting to keep space cleared for pedestrians on the sidewalks and to discourage carrying of offensive signs or uncivil comments or behavior that would detract from the rally’s message.
Some of the security volunteers will carry weapons, he said, as many did during the rally in April.
“There will be guns, but nobody is planning to use a gun at these activities,” he said.
Hoyt is the lone Republican candidate in the race for two House seats in District 2-1. Others include incumbent Democrat Timothy Corcoran II and Democrat Chris Bates, a newcomer.
Some people in the district are said to be considering a run as an independent. They have until Aug. 9 to submit nomination papers.
Hoyt said he expects a much larger rally to take place here in October as part of a statewide series of events prior to the Nov. 6 election.
