Gov. Phil Scott on Thursday directed the Vermont Department of Buildings and General Services to cancel the pending sale of a state-owned rifle bearing a Nazi emblem.
As Seven Days reported Wednesday, the department has in recent months been selling hundreds of seized and abandoned firearms to make room in police evidence rooms. Among the remaining weapons are two World War II-era 8mm Mauser K98 bolt-action rifles featuring the Nazi Reichsadler emblem — an eagle clutching a swastika. One of the two guns was up for bid when Seven Days’ story went to press.
Though an April 2018 law mandated the sale of all the seized and abandoned firearms, the governor found that he had the discretion to choose when to sell them, according to Scott spokesperson Rebecca Kelley. “With that determination, the governor directed BGS to hold both weapons as we determine next steps,” she said. “As any additional sales go forward, those two will not be included.”
According to the buildings and general services website, the pending sale of the first gun has been “postponed.”
Kelley said the governor’s office was trying to determine whether it had the authority to dispose of the weapons in another manner or if it would have to seek a legislative remedy when lawmakers return to Montpelier in January.
“The governor doesn’t want the state promoting this kind of symbolism,” Kelley said.
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erasing history so a few people will not be offended,, great idea,, remove statues, call out those from past generations as racists because of any Politically Correct issue,,, lean so far left the right becomes left,,
So Vermont is having a hissy fit because WW2 German rifles have a WW2 German insignia? The horror! Sell the rifles. There were millions made. They are real. They are part of history. Deny history and you are a moron. Sorry, getting sick of this PC crap
If it couldnt be sold to a private collector, it should have gone to a museum
It is history not propaganda.
Politicians used to attempt to view things using logic; now they attempt to anticipate any illogical offense someone *might* claim and act to avoid offending them. It’s cowardly. But expected.
The state should be destroying all these firearms.not just the Nazi ones. We don’t need more guns in circulation. And I can’t wait to see the number of haters who will dislike this comment.
Yea, let’s not let the state make some money without it being from taxes and let them go to someone’s collection or anything. I find it hard to fathom that this is somehow supporting the symbol that’s been on collectors items for almost 100 years. I’d think if the case was that you want nothing to do with it, to let it go to a private collection or museum where it’s not your problem and someone might enjoy it. You can’t erase history by ignoring it.
I think Phil just wanted to make sure Max Misch didn’t get ahold of it.
Of course they have the right to dispose of them!
Destroy them with fire.