Vermont

Imagine you’re a resident of a quiet, rural community in southern Vermont, and a guy from New York moves to town and starts operating a tactical shooting range without a permit.

Now, imagine that members of a local militia start showing up for military-style training in your neighborhood. And when you raise concerns about the operation, the owner, Daniel Banyai, starts taunting you with thinly-veiled threats.

That’s exactly what some residents of West Pawlet say they’ve endured for more than three years.

But Slate Ridge had already been on federal authorities’ radar.

A bulletin released last year by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, warned that Banyai is believed to possess a large cache of weapons and ammunition. It said he falsely claims to be a federal agent, is known to carry a pistol, and may be agitated if encountered by law enforcement.

A printed bulletin with a photo of Daniel Banyai
Credit Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
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A bulletin from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives warning law enforcement officers about Daniel Banyai, saying he has refused an order to surrender his firearms.

The bulletin also says that Banyai is prohibited from possessing firearms.