Vermont Governor Flips, Signs Massive New Gun-Control Law

In a stark reversal Vermont governor Phil Scott (R) signed a sweeping new gun-control bill into law on Wednesday.

To shouts of "traitor" and "BS," Scott signed S. 55, which institutes sweeping new gun-control measures. The law bans the sale of any firearms to most adults under 21, bans the sale of rifle magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds and handgun magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds, bans private sales of used firearms unless facilitated by a federally licensed gun dealer, and bans the sale and possession of bump-fire stocks. Anyone convicted of breaking the provisions of the law could face up to a year in prison or $1,000 in fines.

The sweeping new gun-control legislation was signed by Scott despite Vermont's low crime rate. In 2016, the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting found only six firearms murders in the entire state—two committed with handguns, two with rifles, one with a shotgun, and one with an unknown firearm. There were also two murders committed with knives.

The governor's signature comes despite previous comments he made during his 2016 election campaign when he told Vermont Public Radio he didn't believe Vermont needed new gun laws.

"I don’t believe that we need more gun restrictions in Vermont at this time," Scott told the news station. "I think we should enforce the ones we have. I think we should focus more on safety and gun education, but also addressing the violence problem that is systemic across the country—and I don't have the answers for that, but that's what's driving this frustration, this outrage. And it's alarming, the horrific acts are alarming. But from my standpoint, I don't believe we need to change our gun laws in Vermont. [A background check requirement on private gun sales] is not something I would support."

Here’ the whole thing as enacted.

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No. 94. An act relating to the disposition of unlawful and abandoned
firearms.
(S.55)
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
Sec. 1. 20 V.S.A. § 2301 is amended to read:
§ 2301. APPLICABILITY OF CHAPTER
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law relating to the retention and
disposition of evidence or lost, unclaimed, or abandoned property, the
provisions of this chapter shall govern the retention or disposition, or both, of
unlawful firearms, as defined in section 2302 of this title, in the possession of
any agency, as defined in section 2302 and the disposition of abandoned
firearms in the possession of the Department of Public Safety.
Sec. 2. 20 V.S.A. § 2302 is amended to read:
§ 2302. UNLAWFUL FIREARMS; AGENCY
(a) For purposes of As used in this chapter,:
(1) “unlawful Unlawful firearms” means firearms the possession of
which constitutes a violation of federal or state State law and firearms carried
or used in violation of any federal or state State law or in the commission of
any federal or state State felony.
(b)(2) For purposes of this chapter, “agency” “Agency” means any state
State or local law enforcement agency, any state State agency except the
Vermont fish and wildlife department Department of Fish and Wildlife, and
any local government entity.
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(3) “Unlawful per se” means firearms the possession of which is
unlawful under any circumstances under State or federal law.
(4) “Abandoned firearms” means firearms in the possession of the
Department of Public Safety that are no longer needed as evidence and remain
unclaimed for more than 18 months from the date the firearms come into the
Department’s possession.
Sec. 3. 20 V.S.A. § 2305 is amended to read:
§ 2305. DISPOSITION OF UNLAWFUL FIREARMS
(a) Any unlawful firearm which the commissioner of public safety
determines to be unsafe or the possession of which is unlawful per se shall
either be destroyed, or if the commissioner of public safety Commissioner of
Public Safety deems such to be it appropriate, retained by the department of
public safety Department of Public Safety for purposes of forensic science
reference. In no event shall the commissioner of public safety Commissioner
of Public Safety dispose of such an unlawful a firearm in any other manner or
to any other person.
(b)(1) Except as provided in section 2306 of this title, all other unlawful
and abandoned firearms shall either be:
(A) delivered to the state treasurer Commissioner of Buildings and
General Services as directed by him or her for disposition by public sale
pursuant to the provisions of chapter 13 of Title 27, or by such other manner of
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sale deemed appropriate by the state treasurer, or sale to a federally licensed
firearms dealer pursuant to the Commissioner’s authority under Title 29;
(B) at the discretion of the state treasurer Commissioner of Buildings
and General Services, donated to a governmental agency or to a nonprofit
organization upon the recommendation of the commissioner of fish and
wildlife, transferred to the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife for
disposition; or,
(C) if the commissioner of public safety Commissioner of Public
Safety deems such to be it appropriate, retained by the department of public
safety Department of Public Safety for purposes of forensic science reference.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provision subdivision (1) of this
subsection, an unlawful firearm used in the commission of a homicide shall not
be delivered to the state treasurer for disposition by public sale Commissioner
of Buildings and General Services, but shall be disposed of only in accordance
with:
(A) the provisions of subsection (a) of this section in the same
manner as unlawful per se firearms; or
(B) section 2306 of this title.
(c) When the firearms sold under this section have been delivered to the
commissioner of public safety by a local law enforcement agency, the state
treasurer Commissioner of Buildings and General Services shall return twothirds
of the net proceeds from the sale to the appropriate municipality. The
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remaining proceeds shall be allocated pursuant to the authority of the
Commissioner of Buildings and General Services under 29 V.S.A. § 1557.
Proceeds allocated to a municipality under this subsection shall, to the extent
needed by the municipality, be used to offset the costs of storing
nonevidentiary firearms.
(d) No State agency or department or State official shall be subject to any
civil, criminal, administrative, or regulatory liability for any act taken or
omission made in reliance on the provisions of this chapter.
Sec. 4. 20 V.S.A. § 2306 is amended to read:
§ 2306. RIGHTS OF INNOCENT OWNER
Nothing contained in subsection 2305(b) of this title shall prejudice the
rights of the bona fide owner of any unlawful firearm, the disposition of which
is governed by that subsection, upon affirmative proof by him or her that he or
she had no express or implied knowledge that such unlawful firearm was being
or intended to be used illegally or for illegal purposes. If the bona fide owner
provides reasonable and satisfactory proof of his or her ownership and of his or
her lack of express or implied knowledge to the commissioner of public safety
Commissioner of Public Safety, the unlawful firearm shall be returned to him
or her. If the commissioner of public safety Commissioner of Public Safety
determines that the proof offered is not satisfactory or reasonable, the person
may, within 14 days, request a hearing before the state treasurer Commissioner
of Buildings and General Services and the commissioner of public safety
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Commissioner of Public Safety, jointly. The state treasurer Commissioner of
Buildings and General Services and the commissioner of public safety
Commissioner of Public Safety shall promptly hold a hearing on any claim
filed under this section, in accordance with the provisions for contested cases
in 3 V.S.A. chapter 25 of Title 3.
Sec. 5. 20 V.S.A. § 2307 is amended to read:
§ 2307. FIREARMS RELINQUISHED PURSUANT TO RELIEF FROM
ABUSE ORDER; STORAGE; FEES; RETURN
* * *
(2)(A)(i) If the owner fails to retrieve the firearm, ammunition, or
weapon and pay the applicable storage fee within 90 days of the court order
releasing the items, the firearm, ammunition, or weapon may be sold for fair
market value. Title to the items shall pass to the law enforcement agency or
firearms dealer for the purpose of transferring ownership, except that the
Vermont State Police shall follow the procedure described in section 2305 of
this title.
* * *
Sec. 6. 13 V.S.A. § 4019 is added to read:
§ 4019. FIREARMS TRANSFERS; BACKGROUND CHECKS
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “Firearm” shall have the same meaning as in subsection 4017(d) of
this title.
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(2) “Immediate family member” means a spouse, parent, stepparent,
child, stepchild, sibling, stepsibling, grandparent, stepgrandparent, grandchild,
stepgrandchild, greatgrandparent, stepgreatgrandparent, greatgrandchild, and
stepgreatgrandchild.
(3) “Law enforcement officer” shall have the same meaning as in
subdivision 4016(a)(4) of this title.
(4) “Licensed dealer” means a person issued a license as a dealer in
firearms pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 923(a).
(5) “Proposed transferee” means an unlicensed person to whom a
proposed transferor intends to transfer a firearm.
(6) “Proposed transferor” means an unlicensed person who intends to
transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person.
(7) “Transfer” means to transfer ownership of a firearm by means of
sale, trade, or gift.
(8) “Unlicensed person” means a person who has not been issued a
license as a dealer, importer, or manufacturer in firearms pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
§ 923(a).
(b)(1) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, an unlicensed
person shall not transfer a firearm to another unlicensed person unless:
(A) the proposed transferor and the proposed transferee physically
appear together with the firearm before a licensed dealer and request that the
licensed dealer facilitate the transfer; and
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(B) the licensed dealer agrees to facilitate the transfer.
(2) A person shall not, in connection with the transfer or attempted
transfer of a firearm pursuant to this section, knowingly make a false statement
or exhibit a false identification intended to deceive a licensed dealer with
respect to any fact material to the transfer.
(c)(1) A licensed dealer who agrees to facilitate a firearm transfer pursuant
to this section shall comply with all requirements of State and federal law and
shall, unless otherwise expressly provided in this section, conduct the transfer
in the same manner as the licensed dealer would if selling the firearm from his
or her own inventory, but shall not be considered a vendor.
(2) A licensed dealer shall return the firearm to the proposed transferor
and decline to continue facilitating the transfer if the licensed dealer
determines that the proposed transferee is prohibited by federal or State law
from purchasing or possessing the firearm.
(3) A licensed dealer may charge a reasonable fee to facilitate the
transfer of a firearm between a proposed transferor and a proposed transferee
pursuant to this section.
(d)(1) An unlicensed person who transfers a firearm to another unlicensed
person in violation of subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be imprisoned not
more than one year or fined not more than $500.00, or both.
(2) A person who violates subdivision (b)(2) of this section shall be
imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more than $500.00, or both.
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(e) This section shall not apply to:
(1) the transfer of a firearm by or to a law enforcement agency;
(2) the transfer of a firearm by or to a law enforcement officer or
member of the U.S. Armed Forces acting within the course of his or her
official duties;
(3) the transfer of a firearm from one immediate family member to
another immediate family member; or
(4) a person who transfers the firearm to another person in order to
prevent imminent harm to any person, provided that this subdivision shall only
apply while the risk of imminent harm exists.
(f) A licensed dealer who facilitates a firearm transfer pursuant to this
section shall be immune from any civil or criminal liability for any actions
taken or omissions made when facilitating the transfer in reliance on the
provisions of this section. This subsection shall not apply to reckless or
intentional misconduct by a licensed dealer.
Sec. 7. 13 V.S.A. § 4020 is added to read:
§ 4020. SALE OF FIREARMS TO PERSONS UNDER 21 YEARS OF AGE
PROHIBITED
(a) A person shall not sell a firearm to a person under 21 years of age. A
person who violates this subsection shall be imprisoned for not more than one
year or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both.
(b) This section shall not apply to:
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(1) a law enforcement officer;
(2) an active or veteran member of the Vermont National Guard, of the
National Guard of another state, or of the U.S. Armed Forces;
(3) a person who provides the seller with a certificate of satisfactory
completion of a Vermont hunter safety course or an equivalent hunter safety
course that is approved by the Commissioner; or
(4) a person who provides the seller with a certificate of satisfactory
completion of a hunter safety course in another state or a province of Canada
that is approved by the Commissioner.
(c) As used in this section:
(1) “Firearm” shall have the same meaning as in subsection 4017(d)
of this title.
(2) “Law enforcement officer” shall have the same meaning as in
subsection 4016(a) of this title.
(3) “Commissioner” means the Commissioner of Fish and Wildlife.
Sec. 8. 13 V.S.A. § 4021 is added to read:
§ 4021. LARGE CAPACITY AMMUNITION FEEDING DEVICES
(a) A person shall not manufacture, possess, transfer, offer for sale,
purchase, or receive or import into this State a large capacity ammunition
feeding device. As used in this subsection, “import” shall not include the
transportation back into this State of a large capacity ammunition feeding
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device by the same person who transported the device out of State if the person
possessed the device on or before the effective date of this section.
(b) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned for not more
than one year or fined not more than $500.00, or both.
(c)(1) The prohibition on possession of large capacity ammunition feeding
devices established by subsection (a) of this section shall not apply to a large
capacity ammunition feeding device lawfully possessed on or before the
effective date of this section.
(2) The prohibition on possession, transfer, sale, and purchase of large
capacity ammunition feeding devices established by subsection (a) of this
section shall not apply to a large capacity ammunition feeding device lawfully
possessed by a licensed dealer as defined in subdivision 4019(a)(4) of this title
prior to the effective date of this act and transferred by the dealer on or before
October 1, 2018.
(d)(1) This section shall not apply to any large capacity ammunition
feeding device:
(A) manufactured for, transferred to, or possessed by the United
States or a department or agency of the United States, or by any state or by a
department, agency, or political subdivision of a state;
(B) transferred to or possessed by a federal law enforcement officer
or a law enforcement officer certified as a law enforcement officer by the
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Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 2358, for
legitimate law enforcement purposes, whether the officer is on or off duty;
(C) transferred to a licensee under Title I of the Atomic Energy Act
of 1954 for purposes of establishing and maintaining an on-site physical
protection system and security organization required by federal law, or
possessed by an employee or contractor of such a licensee on-site for these
purposes, or off-site for purposes of licensee-authorized training or
transportation of nuclear materials;
(D) possessed by an individual who is retired from service with a law
enforcement agency after having been transferred to the individual by the
agency upon his or her retirement, provided that the individual is not otherwise
prohibited from receiving ammunition;
(E) manufactured, imported, transferred, or possessed by a
manufacturer or importer licensed under 18 U.S.C. chapter 44:
(i) for the purposes of testing or experimentation authorized by the
U.S. Attorney General, or for product development;
(ii) for repair and return to the person from whom it was
received; or
(iii) for transfer in foreign or domestic commerce for delivery and
possession outside the State of Vermont; or
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(F) transported by a resident of another state into this State for the
exclusive purpose of use in an established shooting competition if the device is
lawfully possessed under the laws of another state.
(2) This section shall not apply to a licensed dealer as defined in
subdivision 4019(a)(4) of this title for the sole purpose of transferring or
selling a large capacity ammunition feeding device to a person to whom this
section does not apply under subdivision (1) of this subsection (d).
(e)(1) As used in this section, “large capacity ammunition feeding device”
means a magazine, belt, drum, feed strip, or similar device that has a capacity
of, or that can be readily restored or converted to accept:
(A) more than 10 rounds of ammunition for a long gun; or
(B) more than 15 rounds of ammunition for a hand gun.
(2) The term “large capacity ammunition feeding device” shall not
include:
(A) an attached tubular device designed to accept, and capable of
operating only with, .22 caliber rimfire ammunition;
(B) a large capacity ammunition feeding device that is manufactured
or sold solely for use by a lever action or bolt action long gun or by an antique
firearm as defined in subdivisions 4017(d)(2)(A) and (B) of this title; or
(C) a large capacity ammunition feeding device that is manufactured
or sold solely for use with a firearm that is determined to be a curio or relic by
the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. As used in this
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subdivision, “curio or relic” means a firearm that is of special interest to
collectors by reason of some quality other than its association with firearms
intended for sporting use or as offensive or defensive weapons.
Sec. 9. 13 V.S.A. § 4022 is added to read:
§ 4022. BUMP-FIRE STOCKS; POSSESSION PROHIBITED
(a) As used in this section, “bump-fire stock” means a butt stock designed
to be attached to a semiautomatic firearm and intended to increase the rate of
fire achievable with the firearm to that of a fully automatic firearm by using
the energy from the recoil of the firearm to generate a reciprocating action that
facilitates the repeated activation of the trigger.
(b) A person shall not possess a bump-fire stock. A person who violates
this subsection shall be imprisoned not more than one year or fined not more
than $1,000.00, or both.
(c) The Department of Public Safety shall develop, promote, and execute
a collection process that permits persons to voluntarily and anonymously
relinquish bump-fire stocks prior to the effective date of this section.
Sec. 10. REPORT; BACKGROUND CHECKS ON PRIVATE FIREARM
SALES
On or before December 15, 2018, the Department of Public Safety, the
Executive Director of the Department of Sheriffs and State’s Attorneys, and
the Vermont Association of Chiefs of Police shall report to the House and
Senate Committees on Judiciary regarding establishing an alternative to
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13 V.S.A. § 4019 for conducting background checks on private firearms sales.
The option shall permit a purchaser to obtain a background check from a law
enforcement agency rather than a federally licensed firearms dealer when
purchasing the firearm from a private person instead of the dealer. The report
shall analyze the cost and efficiency of obtaining the background check from
the law enforcement agency rather than the dealer, and shall include a
recommendation as to whether such an option should be created by the
General Assembly.
Sec. 11. REPEAL
13 V.S.A. § 4021(d)(1)(F) shall be repealed on July 1, 2019.
Sec. 12. EFFECTIVE DATES
(a) This section and Secs. 1-8, and Secs. 10-11 shall take effect upon
passage.
(b) Sec. 9 (bump stocks) shall take effect on October 1, 2018.
Date Governor signed bill: April 11, 2018

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