2023 Legislative Session
At the VT General Assembly links below, you will need to click on ‘As Introduced’ in the Bill/Resolution Text section to view a PDF of the proposed bill.
S.3
This bill proposes to prohibit the ownership and operation of paramilitary training camps in Vermont.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/S.3
Definition of sport shooting ranges
S.11
This bill proposes to:
(1) prohibit the possession of firearms by persons subject to final relief from abuse and stalking orders
(2) expand the list of criminal offenses with respect to which a conviction prohibits a person from possessing a firearm
(3) require a 72-hour waiting period for most firearms transfers.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/S.11
S.21
The bill proposes to:
(1) prohibit the discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of any occupied dwelling house, residence, or other building or camp occupied by human beings or any barn, stable, or other building used in connection with an occupied building.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/S.21
S.31
This bill proposes:
(1) to prohibit the open carry of loaded firearms in public places;
(2) to provide that a person may not raise self-defense or defense of others as a defense if the person’s use of defensive force occurred outside the person’s home or dwelling and the person had sufficient and available means of avoiding the use of force
(3) to provide that only law enforcement agencies and federally licensed firearms dealers approved as qualified storage locations by the Department of Public Safety may store firearms relinquished by persons subject to relief from abuse orders.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/S.31
S.40
This bill proposes to:
(1) require a 72-hour waiting period for most firearms transfers;
(2) repeal the statute that permits large capacity ammunition feeding devices to be manufactured in Vermont;
(3) require that, when a firearm is not in a person’s immediate possession or control, the firearm must be locked in a safe storage depository or rendered incapable of being fired, or stored with a cooperating law enforcement agency, another State or municipal agency that permits firearms storage, or a federally licensed firearms dealer that accepts relinquished firearms;
(4) provide a premium discount on homeowners insurance policies to policyholders who store their firearms in compliance with safe storage requirements;
(5) prohibit possession of semiautomatic assault weapons; (this is an assault weapon ban buried in the middle)
(6) prohibit using a three-dimensional printer to manufacture a firearm and prohibit distributing digital instructions for using a three-dimensional printer to manufacture a firearm; and
(7) permit firearms industry members to be held liable for damages in public nuisance lawsuits.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/S.40
S.57
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to authorize municipalities to adopt ordinances that may limit or reduce, but not prohibit, the discharge of firearms at a sport shooting range.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/S.57
H.98
The bill proposes:
(1) the following requirements related to firearms storage:
(A) to require that, when a firearm is not in a person’s immediate possession or control, the firearm must be properly secured in such a way to render it inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user and stored separately from ammunition and to set forth escalating penalties for violation of this provision based on the severity of the harm resulting from not properly securing a firearm as required by law
(B) to require federally licensed firearms dealers to post a sign in the dealer’s place of business that states the requirements for firearms storage under Vermont law and to provide firearms purchasers with written materials at the time of purchase that contain guidance for safe firearms storage
(C) to impose criminal and civil liability on a person who violates Vermont safe storage requirements with respect to a firearm that is subsequently used to injure or kill another person
(D) to make an appropriation for fiscal year 2024 that provides short-term funding to help Vermonters purchase safes, depositories, and other equipment for secure firearms storage
(2) to permit a family or household member to file a petition for an Emergency Risk Protection Order
(3) to require a 10-day waiting period for all firearms sales
(4) to prohibit a person from possessing a firearm on premises where alcohol is licensed to be served
(5) to prohibit possession of firearms by persons convicted of hate-motivated crimes
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.98
H.313
Purpose of bill as introduced:
This bill proposes to establish a semiautomatic firearms licensing system in Vermont that requires a person to obtain a license from the Department of Public Safety before purchasing a semiautomatic firearm.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2024/H.313