By Guy Page
The Vermont Senate today passed H.230, a gun control bill featuring a 72-hour waiting period for firearms transfers and required gun storage.
The roll call vote was 19-9. Because the Senate softened the storage provisions – making non-storage a crime only if someone is harmed by an unstored gun – the bill must return to the House for reconciliation. A conference committee is deemed likely.
Gov. Scott appreciates the improved storage language, but still has difficulty with the waiting period, Press Secretary Jason Maulucci said today. Gov. Scott has vetoed waiting period bills in previous sessions.
Sen. Terry Williams (R-Rutland), who voted against the bill, said the waiting period and storage requirements violate the Second Amendment. Supporters say the bill seeks to reduce gun violence and prevent deaths by suicide. It also expands eligible petitioners for Extreme Risk Protection Orders to family or household members and creating a 72-hour waiting period for firearm transfers.
“Vermonters want sensible gun violence prevention laws,” said Senator Sears, chair of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. “H.230 will help reduce community violence, prevent suicides and save lives.”
Supporters say data show that unsecured guns pose safety risks – in particular to youth – and that waiting periods are associated with reduced rates of both homicide and suicide by firearm.
“Right now Vermont is the only state in New England without a law to prevent youth access to firearms — H.230 brings us in line with that regional consensus,” Senate Pro Tem Phil Baruth said.
“As a social worker who works primarily with teens and young adults, I know just how big and transitory their emotions can be,” said Senator Vyhovsky, member of the Senate Committee on Judiciary. “And due to brain development, this population is particularly compulsive when under duress. And as a gun owner myself, nothing in this bill strikes me as overly cumbersome but rather simple common-sense safety measures.”