Gov. Phil Scott, who has long opposed any new restrictions on gun ownership, shifted his position Friday following the arrest of a young man who allegedly intended to commit mass murder at a Rutland County school.
Eighteen-year-old Jack Sawyer of Poultney was arrested Thursday and, in an interview with police, outlined a detailed plan for shooting students — “as many as I can get,” according to the arrest affidavit submitted in court — at Fair Haven Union High School. It seems clear from reading the affidavit that Sawyer would likely have carried out his plan, if not for private individuals alerting authorities on two separate occasions.
Scott appeared deeply shaken by this very close call as he addressed reporters Friday afternoon in his Montpelier office. “If we are at a point when we put our kids on a bus and send them to school without being able to guarantee their safety, who are we?” he asked.
“Just yesterday, I did an interview noting that we are the safest state in the nation,” he continued, referring to remarks he made to Seven Days‘ Taylor Dobbs. “But the reality of how close we came to a devastating tragedy underscores the threat of violence that faces the entire country.
“As a result, I’ve been asking myself, ‘Are we doing everything we can to protect our kids?'” Scott said. His change in heart, he added, means opening the discussion to such issues as mental health, school safety, gun safety and, potentially at least, some form of gun control legislation.
Scott would not identify any specific actions or bills he might now support. In response to questions, he said, “Everything should be on the table at this point.” He indicated that bills currently being considered by the legislature — including one that would mandate criminal background checks for all gun purchasers — would be “a starting point for us to at least have a conversation.”
And he admitted that his mind had been changed by Fair Haven’s close call. “With the events in Florida being so far away, and feeling as though we were immune to this type of threat,” he said, “but reading the affidavit and seeing how close we came to disaster, led me to believe that I have an obligation to protect our citizens.”
While a simple willingness to open a conversation about gun issues may seem an underwhelming response to a near-tragedy, it represents a definite change for Scott. “I need to be open-minded, objective and at least consider anything that will protect our kids,” he said.
Putting words into action will come later, but it was clear that the Fair Haven incident affected Scott as a leader and as a human being in a way that goes beyond the usual “thoughts and prayers” rhetoric.
The police affidavit, written by Detective Sergeant Todd Wilkins of the Vermont State Police, is a chilling document, showing how very close Vermont came to having its very own Columbine, Sandy Hook or Parkland.
The sequence of events started on Tuesday, when a parent of one of Sawyer’s friends reported to Fair Haven police that Sawyer was behaving strangely, had alluded to earlier threats against the high school and had just bought a shotgun and four boxes of ammunition.
Police learned that Sawyer had been in a residential treatment facility in Maine for more than a year to help him cope with anxiety and depression. His father, David Sawyer, told police that Jack had recently checked himself out of the facility and returned to Vermont — and had stopped taking psychiatric medication.
On Wednesday, three officers, including Fair Haven Police Chief William Humphries, interviewed Jack Sawyer, who admitted to making threats against the school in the past but said he had bought the gun for target shooting. According to the affidavit, “Chief Humphries did not ask Sawyer about any plans to commit a violent act.” Police concluded there was no evidence to continue investigating.
On Thursday, Humphries was contacted by the Dutchess County, N.Y., sheriff’s department, which said that a young woman who lived in the area had received disturbing social media messages from Sawyer. One message said, in part, “Just a few days ago I was plotting on shooting up my old high school so it’s not like I really wanted a future anyways.” In a message sent on Wednesday, in the wake of the Florida incident, Sawyer wrote, “That’s fantastic. 100% support it.”
Sawyer was then taken into custody by the Vermont State Police. According to Wilkins’ affidavit, Sawyer told police that he had been inspired to commit a mass school shooting by reading a book about the 1999 Columbine incident, in which 13 people were killed and another 21 wounded. He said he had bought the shotgun for use in his plan, and had selected ammunition that would “cause greater casualties and injuries,” Wilkins reported.
Sawyer also recounted details of his plan, according to Wilkins, including his thoughts on inflicting maximum casualties. In a search of Sawyer’s car, police found the shotgun and a diary entitled “Journal of an Active Shooter.”
It’s clear from reading the affidavit that Sawyer would not have been stopped without the intervention of not one, but two private individuals who independently reported their concerns to police. At the press conference, Scott and other officials repeatedly urged Vermonters, “If you see something, say something.”
Sawyer was arraigned Friday in Rutland County Superior Court on charges of attempted aggravated murder, attempted first-degree murder and attempted aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He is being held without bail. Conviction on the first charge could mean a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
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The young mans journal never rose to any threat larger than Steven Kings ‘Carrie’
Are thoughts now criminalized?
Its disturbing to me how many politicians and law enforcement showed up to that puff news conference where they are attempted to advance their careers by making a mountain out of a molehill during a politically sensitive time.
lets not ruin a life over teenage angst
we have given Josiah Leach endless opportunities for a crime that actually rose to the level of verbalized threats that targeted specific people. Yet our public officials want to throw the book at this young man- I wonder what the difference is
Scott said: “but reading the affidavit and seeing how close we came to disaster, led me to believe that I have an obligation to protect our citizens.”
Dear Governor Scott, I am glad you finally realize you have an obligation to protect Vermont citizens. It’s too bad it took you a year of governing to figure that one out. I truly hope it sticks though.
I am trying to figure out who exactly he attempted to murder. No mention of the victim! Did I miss something!?
While I am glad that Phil Scott is at least appearing to be serious about gun violence, I find his claim of believing that Vermont is somehow “immune” to that violence either very nave or just plain opportunistic ignorance. No state, city, neighborhood or any other area of our country is “immune” from the horror of gun violence.
Phil, you said the words. For us to believe you, you had better take action and take it very soon. If you don’t, those words will be little more than empty rhetoric and we have heard more than enough rhetoric from you and others who love to posture rather than follow through.
Ok, this sounds easy enough. The Sawyer kid was in a psychiatric facility, the one in Florida probably was also, along with most of the others. Both, if not all, on prescription psychotic medications etc etc.
I vote anyone being released from a psychiatric facility or that has been on prescription meds or has been convicted of, not just charged with, convicted of, a felony crime of any violent nature, has the back of their hands tatoo’d “NO GUNS” before they can leave. Anyone selling guns can readily check their hands before a sale and refuse anyone with the identifier. They can’t buy guns, either from a FFL dealer or private sellers that don’t have the resources to run background checks. I don’t suffer deprivation of rights being required to get government approval before I’m allowed buy my guns, which would be in direct violation of the Vermont and US constitutions, posing a hazard of charges of fraud or even treason under the commission of the oath of office for any official involved in passing such a law that required that of me, and we’re all good to go. Wow, I feel safer already.
What specific new laws from the gun control lobby’s usual grab bag could have done any good here? He bought his shotgun from Dick’s Sporting Goods which means he passed an NICS background check and shotguns are low capacity “sporting” weapons that wouldn’t be effected by magazine restrictions or assault weapon bans.
Perhaps we need to look at the way information about psychiatric institutionalization is being reported. That should be disqualifying, but it doesn’t seem to be getting to the FBI, who runs our background check system. There was another recent shooter that should have been disqualified from buying guns but the Air Force failed to report the necessary information to the FBI. The Virginia Tech shooter was another such case.
It appears to me that the gun control debate has gotten so partisan and dominated by interest groups that no one is willing to question the functionality of proposed legislation. Doing something that’s functionally useless is worse than doing nothing because it will lull us into a false sense of security.
Evidently, the slaughter of schoolchildren is not too high a price to pay for gun rights. There is a special place in Hell for the NRA and all of their supporters. The mental gymnastics gun rights supporters are doing to avoid the blood on their hands is criminal. Guns aren’t the problem; Gun rights supporters are. The Second Ammendment must be amended.
Snow Creek- Did you read the article? “Eighteen-year-old Jack Sawyer of Poultney was arrested Thursday and, in an interview with police, outlined a detailed plan for shooting students “as many as I can get,” according to the arrest affidavit submitted in court” These were not just thoughts, he admitted to this being his actual plan.
The direction that would be most effective would be to introduce gun courses in schools, training in gun laws, gun safety, and good habits of gun ownership. That is what schools are for, and drivers ed classes do just that.
Also, placing armed guards at schools, (perhaps the gun safety instructor), and arming faculty would be fine as well. The liberal left only wants to limit gun ownership so are not helpful at all in reducing the threat if violence.
Schools should be about teach children what is important to them for success within a just society.
Thank you for realising this error Governor Scott. Second amendment will not change so we can all carry guns, many of us should not however in my opinion. We really should look into Australia ways of how they handled this same dilemma. Find solutions one of which I’ve heard in Australia is everyone has the right to a gun, but they do it like a motor vehicle where you are certified but you have to ask why you want one – target shooting, hunting all the of the traditions in tact and you pass the safety course and of course mental course and your rights are granted. Would this really hurt gun owners – no, inconvenience probably some but this might be the way to go. Please govern as a Vermonter and not a Republican – thank you.
We allow teachers to mold the minds of our youth, why not allow them to protect them as well. How many teachers in a given school already own and are familiar with guns? Several I bet & after taking a state certification class of some kind, they could be allowed to defend our children & themselves, if they so choose. Look at Assistant Coach Feis who died in that tragic shooting the other day, he was not only a coach but also a security guard. Had he been allowed to carry his weapon on school grounds he might have been able to stop the carnage of so many and saved himself. He should have been armed and if the murderer had known he would be faced with deadly force on that campus, maybe he would have thought twice about that particular “soft target”.
John Gallagher
How about the slaughter or tens of thousands of colonist that fought and died to secured those and other rights for us and then wrote the constitution to insure we didnt loose them again. I guess they mean nothing to you? Their legacy must be dead in the small capacity of your mind. They realized the need for the second amendment as we would continue to need to secure those rights for ourselves every single day going forward. We have a responsibility to not just throw away way what they gave us.
I will not trade liberty for security. “Were doing this to keep you safe” has been the mantra of every step toward tyranny our government has made. If you wish to be the safe little subject of an oppressive government, there are plenty to choose from out there, pack your bags buddy, go be a slave to other men. Im not going to just turn over my liberty and that of my children, because some sniveling little coward wants other people to keep him safe. My safety is my own responsibility, not the governments.
Roger Hill
What an absolute disgrace!
Rights are “granted” to slaves, by kings, nobility and monarchy. Free men/women have their rights inherent as a matter of birth. Have you ever studied American history even one day of your life? Have you ever read The Bill of Rights under which we live? If you love the Australian systems so much, please, by all means move there, go live on your knees.
FreedomToThink? Is that one of those ironic names, like calling a fat guy “Tiny”? Not to disparage you. Certainly you have the freedom to share your thoughts.
timothy price says “The direction that would be most effective would be to introduce gun courses in schools, training in gun laws, gun safety, and good habits of gun ownership. ” That worked really well in Florida. Cruz was in the gun club in the school, sponsored by the NRA, with NRA trainers. He was known as a good shot. So yeah, I guess his training was effective. Thanks NRA. Great job. Timothy, maybe you should read some news from real sources instead of your Facebook feed.
Shannon- Have you ever read the novel ‘Carrie’?
thats the level of threat this young man posed.
He allegedly admitted his plan- officers frequently lie.
even if he said what he allegedly said- its the context it was said in that matters
Regardless- In court he has denied the allegations.
I will let the legal process determine his level of guilt
What he was caught with was a story he had wrote but never acted our or even threatned to act out
He told a few of his friends of previous thoughts he had never acted on.
this is very commen as kids- who has not said they would “kill” someone after a fight or what not as a kid?
as kids its not meant literally- its meant to show anger
lets not ruin this kids life over what amounts to a story
A story he kept in his room
What you people want is a police state where thoughts are outlawed and mob justice is warrented.
thats not what America was founded on
Again Snow Creek I will reference the article “a young woman who lived in the area had received disturbing social media messages from Sawyer. One message said, in part, “Just a few days ago I was plotting on shooting up my old high school so it’s not like I really wanted a future anyways.” That is not just teenage angst. Yes sometimes cops lie but I’m not going to automatically assume they are. The journal was not kept in his room it was in his car with his gun. I agree that it’s a slippery slope when actions haven’t occurred but it sounds like a lot of solid evidence against him and the legal system will decide regardless of what we think. I’m just glad those responsible citizens reported his behavior and we’re not mourning the needless deaths of more children.
As one has, as you call it, freedom to think, you should occasionally use it, sir. Amendment of the Constitution was written into the document itself. Amend the Second Amendment, or have the blood of even more innocents on your hands, FreedonToDink.
Shannon- never mind. Lets just start sending every kid to prison who thinks of a threat.
We should also lock up Stephen King. As he wrote the original journal on school terrorism
He was also an out of control cocaine addict as well
Under todays laws imagine what would happen if he went target shooting with a copy of his at work book ‘carrie’ in tow? Along with being loaded on Cocaine and Alcohol?
he would be charged in the same manner this young man is.
Do you think he would have gone on to the career he has?
Or would he be a failure for life for writing out a fantasy?
I prefer to live in a free country where crimes are only punishied when they are actually commted
I am not convinced that this was ever a serious threat any more than what Josiah Leach did
In fact I see this as less serious as he never actually threatned anyone. He indicated to a close friend that he had THOUGH about acting out what I feel is a fantasy
I dont want to live in a police state where thoughts about crimes or even stories about them are to be treated as actual crimes. A police state where everyone is afraid to say anything for fear of being arrested over virtually anything
Snow Creek, there are more informative articles that reinforce that the arrest was justified. You can give them a read http://www.rutlandherald.com/articles/poli…
It is sick and evil that anyone is forcing children through mass shooter drilling in schools. Every republican bought by the NRA is an accomplice to the gunmen who murdered our children. Buying republicans is good for business, it only cost gun manufacturers a few hundred million and they’ve made hundreds of billions. What a great ROI for the NRA.
Forcing kids to hide under desks in case of nuclear attack is something we mock because of how plainly stupid and useless it was. Forcing kids to hide under a desk in case someone with an AR-15 assault rifle starts firing at them is plainly stupid and useless.
Voting for pro-slaughter republicans and valuing gun rights over our children’s lives is evil and inhuman. If you value a gun more than a child’s right to live in peace and safety, what kind of person are you? What in the name of all that’s holy is wrong with everyone?
The second amendment wasn’t meant to torment our kids so civilians can equip themselves with military arsenals. The NRA’s time has finally come. Their parents may vote for republicans but our children are sick of being slaughtered in school. They’re sick of being terrorized. They are growing up and they will vote. And they will never vote for a NRA-purchased pro-slaughter republican political tool of gun manufacturers. And the majority of Americans will despise republican voters who worship guns over the safety of our children.
@rogerhill “Would this really hurt gun owners”
I would only add, that your comment should read: would it really hurt “potential” gun owners, as it would not make any sense to create retroactive legislation. On top of it being nearly impossible to enforce, you would get way more push back from the “they took our guns” camp.
So he is a teenager with a documented past struggle with depression who got a shotgun to target shoot, went target shooting, and had fantasies about getting revenge on society- he even wrote down some of his delusions in a story- Like the novel ‘carrie’
After being harrassed by the police for legallly owning a gun he made a poor choice and spilled the beans about his delusional plan he had fantasized about. A plan not grounded in reality and not carried out- literally just a fantasy.
what he allegedly did was exactly like what Josiah Leach actually did- threaten people without a realistic plan
Yet this young man is facing several severe charges including attempted murder
Josiah Leach pleaded guilty to charges of threatning. He never faced the severe charges this young man did despite actually naming his intended victims in an online statement he published
Both of these young men had very similar backgrounds and motivations. Nearly exact. Yet one is being charged excessevly with attempted murder, attempted aggravated assault etc, and one has repeatedly been allowed to stay on probation despite him violating said terms multiple times.
this whole deal is about taking political advantage of troubled times and they are using this poor kids as their means of doing it. They are literally trying to advance their careers by ruining this kids life over non existent crimes.
that is shameful on many levels. Perhaps even racist as well.
Require a prospective firearms purchaser to submit to a mental health exam.
There will always be the unstable youth in every state, every school, every town and mental illness shows up and gets worse if untreated about this age for the most part….and sometimes go undetected because families and affected individuals are in denial. As a teacher of 24 years, I feel the schools should play a better part in the identification of “such unstable individuals who are acting out and need psychological assistance”, so we don’t keep seeing these sad mascaras. Teachers see the students every day, and know their character/demeanor – Why can’t we make a difference, by alerting a NEW special TASKFORCE for HOMEGROWN TERRORISTS, if the FBI is too busy to act on such reports. It can make a difference by saving lives in our future generation.
As for the gun laws, we all know some states are looser than others about purchasing a gun. People also purchase at garage/ tag sales, get them handed down from inheritance and can literally make a gun because of the parts for sale on the internet. Anyone who wants to get their hands on a gun, will. Moving forward, thank you Gov Scott for rethinking your move on the VERMONT gun laws.
As a Democrat and Phil Scott supporter, I would like Phil to know that I was worried after reading his initial response in yesterdays article, I would have to reconsider supporting him. But today I am heartened to know, when it comes to protecting our children, Phil will be flexible and willing to adapt his views to get the problem solved. Good job Governor!
SnowCreek, Why do you keep referring to Stephen King’s ‘Carrie,’ which it seems you have never read. Carrie never writes out a revenge plan in a journal — she enacts revenge on school bullies spontaneously through powers of telekinesis, and burns down the town. She had no gun. Also, Carrie was a work of fiction, not a “To-Do” list.
Are you thinking of the King novel ‘Rage,’ published in 1977? That novel was, in fact, cited as inspiration by school shooters in 1988, and onward. King was so horrified that he took the novel out of publication, and it will forever remain out of print. That is a mature and appropriate response.
It was not the Fair Haven student’s written plan alone that caused law enforcement to act. It was his words, hisory, behavior and own admissions that led to a credible threat.
” Carrie never writes out a revenge plan in a journal — she enacts revenge on school bullies spontaneously through powers of telekinesis, and burns down the town. “
‘Carrie’ is a manifestation of Stephen Kings mind- not a real person. ‘carrie’ indeed never did write a journal- nor did she ever attack a school….You seem to be confusing fiction with reality. Much like the Police in Fair Haven. You also seem to be unable to grasp the simple concept I laid out over several posts- that fictional works do not rise to the level of actual crimes. If you cant understand that basic premise than its pointless trying to delve into the deeper complexities of thoughts being criminalized.
SnowCeek, it was not entirely clear from your words whether you were likening the Fair Haven student’s journal to an event in the plot of Carrie, or to the writing of a piece of fiction, using Carrie as an example of fiction. (Just FYI, Spoiler Alert: Carrie does, in fact, entirely destroy the high school during the prom.)
I see now you are asserting the journal was only a harmless work of fiction and no grounds for an arrest. My points are (a) King himself did not find his own writings about HS violence to be harmless, so your choice of King does not support your argument well; and (b) he was not arrested solely on the basis of his writings. There was much additional evidence that indicated the journal was not simply a creative writing exercise, but an actual study and plan for a school attack.
“I see now you are asserting the journal was only a harmless work of fiction and no grounds for an arrest.”
Actually my stance has been quite clear to anyone willing to read what I wrote from my very first post on this article.
If you are only now seeing this then you likely did not read any of my previous comments
And there is no evidence to substantiate that this young mans journal was ever going to rise above what it did- a harmless story. what the state is claiming it has is circumstantial evidence of a crime without any crime being actually commited- a highly debatable accusation that I do not feel will hold up in court
The young man never actually threatened anyone- Unlike Josiah Leach
Whom I might remind you was let off on probation AGAIN the day before this after violating his terms of release several times.
If the state was so concerned about keeping us safe rather than staging a political show- then why is Mr. Leach still free why Mr. Saywer is incarcerated?