May 17, 2013
State lawmakers wrapped up their 2013 legislative session earlier this week in Montpelier with good results for Vermont NRA members. Several anti-gun bills were introduced in Vermont this year, but none of them advanced beyond committee. NRA members did a tremendous job of contacting their state legislators to express concerns about legislation that would attack the Second Amendment, and your telephone calls and e-mails made the difference.
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March 8, 2013
The Vermont Legislature will hit its “Crossover” deadline on Friday, March 15, their timeline for passing bills from one chamber to the other. The 2013 session has seen several anti-gun bills introduced in the Legislature, including semi-auto bans, magazine capacity limits, waiting periods and mandatory storage laws, among others.
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February 22, 2013
House Bill 335 and House Bill 336, both sponsored by Representative George Till (D-Chittenden-3), were introduced this week in the Vermont House of Representatives. These bills do nothing to address public safety or crime, and they represent yet another attack on the Second Amendment rights of lawful gun owners.
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February 12, 2013
Tomorrow, the House Committee on Fish, Wildlife and Water Resources will hear House Bill 129. This NRA-supported bill introduced by state Representative Patrick Brennan (R-Chittenden-9-2) would allow bow hunters and dog trainers to carry a handgun for self-defense while in the field. Currently, Vermont law and hunting regulations prohibit the carrying of a firearm while engaged in bow hunting or dog training. A growing number of states are amending their laws to allow such a practice. This bill needs your support, so please contact Committee members in advance of their 9:00 a.m. meeting tomorrow, February 13.
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February 1, 2013
Earlier this month in Montpelier, Senate Majority Leader Philip Baruth withdrew S.32 after NRA members flooded the State House with calls and e-mails in opposition to his proposed semi-auto ban. Undaunted, state Representative Linda Waite-Simpson has launched the second salvo by introducing House Bill 124 and House Bill 125 this week. Rep. Waite-Simpson has a history of anti-gun activism and annually sponsors a “mandatory firearm storage bill” in Vermont that would force gun owners to lock up their firearms and render them useless for self-defense.
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January 24, 2013
Last week, state Senate Majority Leader Philip Baruth introduced Senate Bill 32 , legislation that would have outlawed the manufacture, possession, sale and transfer of thousands of popular semi-automatic firearms and would also ban ammunition magazines which hold more than ten rounds. Thanks to your calls and e-mails, Senator Baruth withdrew this bill from consideration within a week of its introduction.
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January 18, 2013
State Senator and Majority Leader Philip Baruth has jumped on the bandwagon of exploiting the Connecticut tragedy by introducing legislation that will only affect law-abiding gun owners. Instead of concentrating on meaningful measures relating to school safety, mental health issues, marketing of violence as entertainment for our children, and the collapse of federal prosecutions of violent criminals, Senator Baruth has introduced Senate Bill 32. This would outlaw the manufacture, possession, sale and transfer of thousands of popular semi-automatic firearms and would also ban ammunition magazines which hold more than ten rounds.
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January 3, 2013
At its next meeting on Monday, January 7, the Burlington City Council will consider a gun ban that targets possession of semi-automatic firearms and magazines by law-abiding gun owners. This proposed charter change calls for the seizure of all semi-automatic “assault weapons” and magazines by the police, and not only violates the current state firearms preemption statute, but is an irresponsible attack on the property and rights of law-abiding gun owners in Vermont, opening the door to other harmful restrictions of your civil liberties. Thi City Council meeting will be held at the Burlington City Hall at 7:00 PM on Monday, January 7. Please contact Mayor Miro Weinberger and city councilors TODAY and respectfully urge them to reject this proposed charter change when it is introduced and considered on Monday.
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January 2, 2013
At its next meeting on Monday, January 7, the Burlington City Council will consider a gun ban that targets semi-automatic firearms and opens the door to other harmful Second Amendment restrictions.
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April 14, 2012
Chairman Pat Brennan invites you to join members of the Vermont Legislative Sportsmen’s Caucus to discuss the issues facing Vermont’s sporting community and ways to help promote and protect rural traditions and way of life. Feel free to invite family and friends as there is no charge for this event.
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September 21, 2011
The 2011 legislative session was a quiet one for Vermont gun owners. However, a few anti-gun bills were introduced and defeated through inaction.
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March 24, 2011
Vermont gun control advocates have invited a Harvard professor to discuss "gun safety," and event organizers have gone so far as to politicize the tragic shooting of Arizona U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords in their push for mandatory storage laws in Vermont. Dr. David Hemenway, who they proclaim is the nation's leading expert on firearm death and injury in their press release, will be on hand to equate teen suicides with mandatory storage laws currently being introduced in the Vermont Legislature.
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February 17, 2011
Sponsored by state Representative Waite-Simpson (D-Essex), House Bill 83 would undermine a citizen’s right to self-defense by imposing onerous storage requirements on Vermont gun owners, rendering firearms useless in self-defense situations. H. 83 would require households with children to store their firearms unloaded with an installed trigger lock and in a locked container.
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May 28, 2010
On Wednesday, May 26, Governor Jim Douglas (R) signed H. 243 into law.
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April 30, 2010
On Friday, April 30, the Vermont State House of Representatives voted to concur on House Bill 243. The bill now heads to the desk of Governor Jim Douglas (R) for his consideration.
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April 27, 2010
On Tuesday, April 27, the Vermont Senate passed House Bill 243 by a vote of 28-1. The bill now heads back to the House for concurrence.
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April 26, 2010
The Vermont Senate could consider House Bill 243 as early as tomorrow.
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April 23, 2010
On Friday, April 23, House Bill 243 passed the Senate Finance Committee and now heads to the Senate Floor.
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April 16, 2010
House Bill 243 was passed out of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee by a vote of 4-1. The bill now heads to the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.
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April 9, 2010
House Bill 243, introduced by State Representative Steve Adams (R-Windsor-4), is still pending in the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee.
H. 243 would establish a mentored hunting license that would allow prospective hunters to try their hand at hunting before being compelled to complete a hunter education course. Apprentice hunters would have to be directly supervised in the field by a mentor who is at least 21 years-old and who holds a valid hunting license. Experience in more than two-dozen other states with these laws shows that this kind of mentored hunting programs are exceptionally safe and will bring many new hunters into the field. There is no reason to believe that the citizens of Vermont will prove to be the exception to this outstanding track record.
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April 6, 2010
House Bill 243, introduced by State Representative Steve Adams (R-Windsor-4), is currently pending consideration in the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee.
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April 2, 2010
House Bill 243 will be heard in the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee on Tuesday, April 6 at 11:30 a.m. This important mentored hunting legislation has proven an effective way to draw those interested in hunting to our fields and forests by allowing them to participate with experienced hunters. More then two-dozen other states already have some type of mentored hunter program, and this legislation seeks to give those in Vermont that same opportunity. As a result of this legislation, more citizens will complete hunter education and join the hunting ranks as a result. Please contact members of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee and respectfully urge them to support H. 243.
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March 26, 2010
Please Contact the Members of the Senate Natural Resources and Energy Committee!
House Bill 243, introduced by State Representative Steve Adams (R-Windsor-4), is currently awaiting...
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March 19, 2010
On Thursday, March 18, the Vermont House passed H. 243, a bill that would establish a mentored hunting license that would allow prospective hunters to try their hand at hunting before completing a hunter education course. Apprentice hunters would have to be directly supervised in the field by a mentor who is at least 21 years-old and who holds a valid hunting license.
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March 12, 2010
House Bill 484, a bill that had the potential to ban the sale and use of virtually all ammunition in Vermont by requiring that the Secretary of Natural Resources to set up a program to identify and ban the distribution of certain toxic chemicals, was defeated in the House Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources Committee.
Due in part to an outpouring of opposition from sportsmen, the original far-reaching bill was replaced with a resolution asking Congress to take action to amend the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 to require broader testing and regulation of chemicals.
Please continue checking your e-mail and www.NRAILA.org for updates on other pending legislative issues.
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March 12, 2010
HB 243 passed out of the Committee on Ways and Means and could be brought up as early as next week for a vote on the House Floor.
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March 5, 2010
Please Contact Your State Legislators Today!
Introduced by State Representative Steve Adams (R-Windsor-4), House Bill 243 would establish a mentored hunting license that would allow...
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February 26, 2010
As we have reported, the House Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources Committee is currently considering H. 484, legislation that could potentially ban the sale and use of virtually all ammunition in Vermont.
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January 28, 2010
The House Fish, Wildlife & Water Resources Committee is currently considering legislation (H. 484) which could potentially ban the sale and use of virtually all ammunition in Vermont.
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January 7, 2010
The Vermont State Legislature reconvened in Montpelier this week for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session. One piece of anti-gun legislation has already been introduced.
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May 15, 2009
As the 2009 state’s Legislative Session comes to a close in Vermont, pro-gun enthusiasts can take credit for gaining ground against animal rights extremists who sought to infringe on Second Amendment rights. Attempts to outlaw “coyote contests” with SB 113 were rebuffed. HB 313 legalizes the purchase of long guns from non-contiguous states. Thank you to all those who contacted their legislators during the session for making your voices heard on these important issues.
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May 6, 2009
As the legislative session in Montpelier winds down, two bills of importance to Vermont’s gun owners and sportsmen are currently pending action.
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April 9, 2009
Senate Bill 113, sponsored by State Senator Ginny Lyons (D-Chittenden), is currently in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy. Senator Lyons, the bill sponsor and Committee Chair, plans to move this bill forward in Committee.
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March 27, 2009
Numerous firearm-related bills are currently pending action in Montpelier.
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January 9, 2009
The Vermont State Legislature reconvened in Montpelier this week for the 2009-2010 Legislative Session, with members of the House electing a new Speaker, State Representative Shap Smith (D-Lamoille-Washington-1).
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April 20, 2007
Thanks to a successful grassroots campaign by NRA, the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs and other Vermont-based sportsmen's groups, important new protections have been proposed as a committee amendment to H.352. As introduced, this bill would have banned lead in ammunition and opened ammunition manufacturers, shooters, reloaders, and shooting ranges to expensive litigation.
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March 30, 2007
Due to the overwhelming and exceptional actions of Vermont’s gun owners and sportsmen, H. 352 appears to be dead for the 2007 legislative session. H. 352 is being disguised as a “help the children lead ban” bill to remove lead hazards from homes and businesses. Unfortunately, H. 352 is too broad and leaves interpretation open for municipalities to ban the manufacture, sale, and possession of lead ammunition.
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March 9, 2007
New legislation, S. 152 and H. 352, will endanger the future of shooting and hunting in Vermont. The State House of Representatives will hold a special hearing on H352 on Tuesday evening, March 13 at 7:30 pm in the House Chamber in the State Capitol Building. Please call your State Legislator today at (802) 828-2228 or (800) 322-5616 and ask him or her to oppose H352 and S152!
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March 2, 2007
The controversial anti-gun "Get the Lead Out of Vermont" report released last month by the Vermont Attorney General and State Department of Health has spawned a far-reaching bill that could allow Vermont municipalities to outlaw shooting ranges and even the mere possession of lead ammunition. Please call your legislator today at 802-828-2228 and ask him or her to oppose H352!
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May 26, 2006
On Monday, May 22, Governor Jim Douglas (R) signed H 447. This legislation will protect Vermont's shooting ranges from lawsuits and municipal ordinances that may require ranges to be shut down.
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