>
> Today the House Judiciary Committee took up the Federation's suggested
> Veterans-Hunters-Shooters Protection Amendment to remove the totally
> unnecessary 18 month waiting period for those who have recovered from
> mental illness. This would allow recovered citizen to be able to petition a
> Vermont court to have their rights reinstated.
>
> This would have resulted in the federal NICS system being notified and the
> citizen to have the legal disability status removed.
>
> The Federation believed that if the 18 month waiting period was removed, it
> would provide a viable solution on this issue in S.141. Of the 31 states that
> have a similar NICS reporting system, 30 do not have a waiting period.
>
> The U.S. Department of Justice NICS restoration of rights process does not
> require a state waiting period. Not even for a state to qualify for its grants
> program.
>
> After testimony on the the proposed Federation amendment that was introduced
> by the Rep. Thomas Burditt (R) West Rutland, the language was discussed at
> length and was well received.
>
> At the very end of the hearing, Rep. Willem Jewett (D) Ripton introduced an
> amendment to the Federation amendment. His amendment would raise the
> standard of proof of a recovered citizen from a preponderance of evidence
> (51 percent) to the much higher "clear and convincing evidence" standard.
>
> This means a citizen who has recovered from mental illness and petitions to
> have their firearms right restored will face an expensive and very difficult legal
> process that virtually permanently bars them from the possession of firearms.
>
> This passed all passed in the committee, as did the now amended S.141.
> The vote to pass was along party lines.
>
> As the Federation was willing to not oppose S.141, if the Federation
> amendment was incorporated into S.141, the amending of the Federation
> language to include the draconian language of the Rep. Jewett has killed
> that offer and the Federation now remains strenuously opposed to S.141.
>
> S.141 now heads to the floor of the House and it should stand for its first
> floor vote on Thursday and its final vote on Friday.
>
> S.141 has ceased to be just a gun control bill. It has become much worse.
> In addition being an unnecessary gun control bill, it is a bill that could deter
> people from seeking assistance with mental illness issues. It now reinforces
> a stigma of disdain for those who have had the misfortunate to fall into mental
> illness. Like our returning Veterans and their families.
>
> The Federation and all of the other gun rights groups could have walked
> away from all of this after defeating S.31 and its mandatory background
> check system. But, instead all stayed to work to remove or correct serious
> and numerous legal and structural problems with the remaining two sections,
> in what became S.141.
>
> The members of the House Judiciary Committee who voted for S.141 have
> now staked out an inexcusable position of mislabeling the mentally ill (even
> when recovered) as forever being social and legal outcasts, excluded from
> from the respect and the rights of peaceful citizens.
>
> This awful amendment is now their position, on public record, let them defend it.
>
> If you would like to voice your opposition to the Jewett Amendment to S.141
> call the Sgt-At-Arms at 802-828-2228 and leave a message for Rep. Maxine
> Grad (House Judiciary Chair) and Rep. Willem Jewett (Vice-Chair):
> Please Justify The S.141 Jewett Amendment
> House Judiciary Members are:
> Name
> Email
> Phone
> Party/Town
> Maxine Grad, Chair
> mgrad@leg.state.vt.us
> 496-7667
> (D) - Moretown
> Willem Jewett, Vice Chair
> wjewett@leg.state.vt.us
> 388-0320
> (D) - Ripton
> Thomas Burditt, Ranking Member
> tburditt@leg.state.vt.us
> 438-0031
> (R) - W. Rutland
> Charles Conquest
> cconquest@leg.state.vt.us
> 757-3803
> (D) - Wells River
> William Frank
> bill@repbillfrank.com
> 899-3136
> (D) - Underhill
> Martin LaLonde
> mlalonde@leg.state.vt.us
> 863-3086
> (D) - S. Burlington
> Marcia Martel
> mmartel@leg.state.vt.us
> 748-9134
> (R) - Waterford
> Betty Nuovo
> bnuovo@leg.state.vt.us
> 388-2024
> (D) - Middlebury
> Barbara Rachelson
> brachelson@leg.state.vt.us
> 862-1290
> (D) - Burlington
> Vicki Strong
> vstrong@leg.state.vt.us
> 754-2790
> (R) - Irasburg
> Gary Viens
> gviens@leg.state.vt.us
> 323-2183
> (R) - Newport
> The Committee Assistant is:
> Kate Wilson
> (802) 828-2257
> kwilson@leg.state.vt.us
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Today in House Judiciary Committee on S.141 (Nasty Ruled Today)
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Action Alert: Vermont House Judiciary Committee to Vote on Tuesday morning
Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Inc.
Proudly Serving Vermont Since 1875
After repeated attempts to achieve a viable solution with our legislators over a very reasonable pro-gun / hunting rights amendment to S.141, it now time to contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee with a simple message:
"Amend S.141 with the Veteran's/Hunters/Shooters Protection Amendment or Vote Against the bill"
This amendment repairs an unreasonable period of denial of access to due process of law before being able to petition a court for restoration of gun rights. The proposed amendment is just and fair.
On weekdays you may leave them a message with the Sgt-At Arms at 802-828-2228.
On weekends and Mondays you can also leave them a message at their residence.
There is no need to debate the bill with the legislators, just tell them the short one sentence message. It is now time to be quite firm.
Select a session
Select a session
[2015-2016 Session \/]
[Go]
House Judiciary Members are:
| Name | Email | Phone | Party/Town |
| Maxine Grad, Chair | 496-7667 | (D) - Moretown | |
| Willem Jewett, Vice Chair | 388-0320 | (D) - Ripton | |
| Thomas Burditt, Ranking Member | 438-0031 | (R) - W. Rutland | |
| Charles Conquest | 757-3803 | (D) - Wells River | |
| William Frank | 899-3136 | (D) - Underhill | |
| Martin LaLonde | 863-3086 | (D) - S. Burlington | |
| Marcia Martel | 748-9134 | (D) - Waterford | |
| Betty Nuovo | 388-2024 | (D) - Middlebury | |
| Barbara Rachelson | 862-1290 | (D) - Burlington | |
| Vicki Strong | 754-2790 | (R) - Irasburg | |
| Gary Viens | 323-2183 | (R) - Newport |
The Committee Assistant is:
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