Today, the Vermont Senate passed Senate Bill 141 on a 20 to 8 vote on “third reading.” S.141 is a “committee bill” that replaced Senate Bill 31, the “universal” background check bill, which was met with strong opposition from gun owners. NRA strongly opposes both bills. We worked with our state association, the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, to amend S.141 in committee and limit its impact on law-abiding gun owners. Despite changes we made to the bill, serious concerns still exist with this legislation and your NRA will be fighting to protect the Second Amendment rights of Vermonters as it advances to the House of Representatives.
Yesterday, an unsuccessful amendment offered by Senator Joe Benning was defeated on the Senate floor. That amendment would have scrapped the 18-month waiting period before someone’s rights restoration appeal could be heard by a judge.
Ultimately, it has always been NRA’s position that this bill is an unnecessary “solution in search of a problem” given Vermont’s firm ranking as one of the safest states in the country. The bill’s introduction can be solely attributed to a political agenda being pushed by an out-of-state gun control group. Being faced with defeat on their misguided gun control agenda and a bill that would have criminalized private transfers, anti-gun groups are clinging to the flawed S.141.
Your NRA-ILA will continue to keep you updated when more information is available.
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