Proudly Serving Vermont Since 1875
Date: March 13, 2015
From: Evan Hughes, VP - NRA Affairs
RE: Status of S.31
The Senate Judiciary Committee worked on two drafts of bills on enacting state laws that would be redundant of federal gun laws.
S.31 was pulled and the Mandatory Background Check section was dropped from being acted in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
But, as we have been relating, there was interest among some senators in adopting some sections of the federal laws in Vermont.
One draft was about those individual who have been convicted violent criminals in possession of firearms and the other draft was reporting of court orders for people a judge has ruled to be a threat to themselves or others.
Observations periods and voluntary commitments would not subject a person to an order that leads to restriction of firearm ownership. There is also an reinstitution of rights section of the this draft.
It is important to understand this is an evolving legislative process and requires more work by the committee before it is considered for passage by a floor vote in the senate.