Vermont Senator Withdraws Bill to Ban Assault Weapons

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The majority leader of the Vermont state Senate says he's withdrawing a bill that would have reinstated in Vermont a now-expired federal assault weapons ban.

Democratic Senator Philip Baruth, of Chittenden County, says there's not enough support among his colleagues and there's mounting opposition from outside the Statehouse.

Baruth's bill also would have capped the number of rounds in a gun's magazine to five.

Vermont Public Radio is reporting that Baruth sent a statement to his colleagues Sunday saying he would abandon the legislation.

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