by Timothy McQuiston Vermont Business MagazineGovernor Phil Scott announced today that he will sign three bills related to gun safety(S.55, S.221 and H.422) at 2 pm on Wednesdayat the State House. The most controversial of them has been S.55. On March 27the House held a marathon floor session to give final approval to S.55. The bill would ban “bump-stocks,” limit the capacity of ammunition magazines, require background checks for private gun sales and increase the age at which one can purchase a firearm from 18 to 21. The House approved the bill on a 89-54 roll call vote. The bill went back to the Senate and on March 30 and after an acrimonious floor debate the Senate signed off on the changes made by the House on a 17 to 13 roll call vote.
The other two bills quickly followed. The House approved S.221, which creates a legal process for police to seize firearms from a person deemed a danger to themselves or others. The Senate approved H.422, which allows police to seize firearms from a person arrested for domestic violence.
Thegovernor previously indicated he would sign all the bills into law.
Opponents of the bills quickly organized and lobbied the Legislature and held rallies.
Governor Scott on March 30 issued the following statement on S.55, S.221 and H.422:
“Vermont is currently one of the healthiest and safest states inAmerica.However, as tragedies in Florida, Las Vegas, Newtown and elsewhere—as well as the averted plot to shoot up Fair Haven High School—have demonstrated, no state is immune to the risk of extreme violence.
“As Governor, I have a moral and legal obligation and responsibility to provide forthe safety of our citizens. If we are at a point when our kids are afraid to go to school and parents are afraid to put their kids on a bus, who are we?
“That’s why I put forward an action plan last month with steps to better ensure the safety and well-being of all Vermonters. My proposalsincluded enhancing school safety, identifying and addressing root causes of violence and developing avenues for open conversations about gun safety, while preserving our Constitutional rights.
“I thank theLegislature for responding to my request to act, moving forward on bills that will help keep guns out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them.
“As I’ve said, I strongly support the second amendment and all Constitutional rights. I support S.55, S.221 and H.422 because I believe these bills uphold these rights, while taking reasonable steps to reduce the risk of violence.
“I want to be clear, however, that more must be done to address the underlying causes of violence. We must redouble our efforts to strengthen our mental health care system, continue to combat opiate addiction, be better role models, reduce political polarization and treat all people with dignity and respect, as well as working to ensure every family has the hope that economic opportunity provides. These are essential to reducing violence in our state and our nation.
“It’s now time to work together to strengthen our communities and families – because better regulating guns to reduce violence in our society isn’t the complete answer.”
WHAT: Bill Signing Ceremony
Governor Phil Scott will sign three bills into law:
·S.221–EXTREME RISK PROTECTION ORDERS:S.221 authorizes the State to petition the court for an extreme risk protection order to remove a person’s access to weapons, including guns, if he or she poses an imminent danger to selfor others.This is a lifesaving tool that can prevent gun tragedies, such as suicides or murders, before they occur.
·H.422–PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE VICTIMS:H.422 improves the ability of law enforcement to remove firearms from the scene of a domestic violence crime, with due process. More than half of all domestic violence related fatalities in Vermont are committed with a firearm. This lawwill better protect domestic violence victims and their children.
·S.55–COMMONSENSE GUN SAFETY LEGISLATION:S.55 includes gun safety provisionsrelating touniversalbackground checks; age of purchase andsafety training; bump stocks; and magazine capacity.
The Governor will be joined by members of his Administration, legislators and victims’ rights and domestic violence advocates as he signs these three bills.
WHEN:Wednesday, April 11, 2018
2:00 p.m.
WHERE: Vermont State House
115 State Street, Montpelier, Vt.
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