LETTER: Station should ‘consider the impact’ of radio ad’s message
February 1, 2024Editor’s note: Writer Randy George of Moretown sent the following letter to the new owners of Radio Vermont/WDEV Myers Mermel and Scott Milne regarding an ad airing on the station for a gun show in Barre this weekend, Feb. 3-4. He shares it with the community here.
Dear Mr. Mermel and Mr. Milne,
I write to you as a long-time, loyal listener of WDEV. For over a quarter century, this local treasure has connected me to my community in a way that only good radio can. As you know, community radio is a rarity these days. I congratulate you both for having the courage and commitment to carry the Radio Vermont torch. The fact that we still have this truly independent voice in Central Vermont makes me proud to live here.
For years, the rhythms of my day have revolved around WDEV. I wake up to Lee Kittell playing songs from musicians who were born that day before he catches me up on the local news. I don't get out of bed without first having Roger Hill tell me what I can expect when I step outside. I never chop wood or mow the lawn on a summer Sunday without the Sox game on my headphones. George Thomas is my favorite jazz DJ. And life in Vermont just wouldn't be the same without the Trading Post.
I am also happy to listen to my own music when NASCAR is on or during Bill Sayer's show. There are diverse views and tastes in our community and although I might not always agree with my neighbors or enjoy doing the same things they do, they are my neighbors. They might be the ones to pull me out of a snow bank next week and I enjoy knowing that a love of our local radio station is something we have in common. WDEV unites our community at a time when there is a frightening amount of divisiveness in our society.
Perhaps one of the most vital services WDEV provides us with is displayed when the going gets tough. When we are in crisis, we turn to WDEV. I saw this first in the spring of 1999 when my wife and I had just moved back to Vermont. We were living in Waterbury and one morning I was awakened by an earthquake rolling through town. My first instinct was to tune into 96.1. Sure enough, I immediately started learning everything about the event from my neighbors as the calls came rolling in. I saw this again when Irene tore through Vermont; all of us were glued to the radio. It was our lifeline-almost literally when we were in the midst of that crisis.
So, imagine if your crisis is internal and you turn to your trusty local radio station and you hear an invitation to go right on down to the gun show and buy a firearm with no questions asked. Twice at the end of the ad, the announcer emphasizes that there is no waiting period to purchase firearms at this show. How would you feel if it was discovered that a mentally unstable person heard this ad, took the suggestion to easily purchase a firearm and then went to one of our local schools, places of worship, businesses, or their own home and killed people or harmed themselves with that weapon? That's what has been going through my mind in the days since you started running the ad for the upcoming gun show.
When you took over ownership of WDEV, you assumed a heavy responsibility. In so many ways, this little radio station is the voice of our community. As the stewards of this important community resource that brings people together in so many ways, I ask you to carefully consider and respect the influence that your media outlet has. I don't have an objection to the existence of a gun show in my community. I don't have an objection to Radio Vermont taking money from the gun show in return for running an ad promoting the event. But I strongly object to the blatant invitation from this advertiser for anyone to walk into that show and purchase a firearm.
I know that there is a legal loophole that allows the sale of firearms at gun shows without a waiting period, but I ask you to consider the impact this ad running on your influential radio station has on our community.
Please ask this advertiser to remove this blatant invitation to immediately buy a deadly weapon. You are putting us all at risk.
Sincerely,
Randy George
Moretown