The Vermont House of Representatives is considering a bill that would require a federal firearms license holder to assign serial numbers to guns and certain parts that don’t have them.
The legislature is also considering amendments that would prohibit carrying weapons in polling places, allow municipalities to implement local regulations, and instruct the Vermont Secretary of State to present a report on how such bans should be implemented by Dec. 31., 2024.
S209, the “Vermont Ghost Guns Act,” was scheduled for its third reading on April 23, but the House Judiciary Committee was still considering amendments to the bill. The House voted to postpone the measure for one day.
A first offense carries a fine of up to $500 and a sentence of not more than one year in prison or both.
A second offense carries a maximum fine of $1,000 and up to two years in jail or both.
A third or subsequent offense ratchets the penalty up to a fine of up to $2,000 and three years in prison or both.
Carrying a gun without a serial number during the commission of a violent crime would bring the possibility of five years in prison, a possible $5,000 fine, or both.
Supporters say the law will make police investigations more efficient and also prevent criminals from getting their hands on untraceable firearms.
“Possessing an unserialized firearm in Vermont will no longer be allowed,” Rep. Angela Arsenault (D-Chittenden-2) told the House during the bill’s second reading on April 18.
But after the second reading, Rep. Arthur Peterson (R-Rutland-2) said he was not convinced.
He compared requiring a criminal to put a serial number on his gun to requiring him to register his getaway car before a bank robbery.
“Why in the world would they serialize that gun? They would be a fool to do that,” Mr. Peterson said. “I don’t see how this is going to stop crime.”
After its second reading on April 18, the bill was sent to the House Judiciary Committee to consider proposed amendments.
One of those amendments, proposed by Rep. James Harrison (R-Rutland-12), would allow each municipality to write its gun regulations.
Under current Vermont law, local governments are prohibited from regulating firearms.
Committee Chairman Rep. Martin LaLonde (D-Chittenden-12) said Everytown for Gun Safety, Moms Demand Action, and the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs support his amendment calling for the report.
Chris Bradley, president of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, submitted written testimony to the committee.
In it, he pointed out that his group guardedly supports only one of the amendments.
Mr. Bradley pointed out that the amendments would designate gun-free zones.
While his group supports efforts to gather information, Mr. Bradley said gun-free zones are a failed strategy.
“Gun-Free Zones, unless protected by screening and guards, cannot be considered safe places for those who wish to provide the means of the defense of themselves and others,” Mr. Bradley wrote.
Under the proposed law, any firearm, frame or receiver, and certain firearm parts would have to be taken to a federal firearms license (FFL) holder to have a serial number assigned to it.
Failure to do so could result in fines and a prison sentence.
The law would also require the FFL holder to complete a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check system before transferring an item back to its owner after a serial number has been affixed.
If the transfer is denied based on the background check, the FFL is required to turn the item over to law enforcement “for disposition.”
The Judiciary Committee voted to add both amendments to the bill.
Once the amendments have been prepared, the bill and the proposed amendments will return to the House for a third reading and possible vote.
