By Guy Page

Parro’s Gun Shop on Rte. 2 in Waterbury will host two free workshops offered by the U.S. Concealed Carry Association Wednesday, January 15.

From noon – 2 PM, the USCCA will present its Legal Use of Force Workshop, including:

• Understand “Reasonable Use of Force” to know when to fight and when NOT to.
• The (4) things that must be true to legally justify the use of Deadly Force 
• How to quickly improve your home security and defense.

From 4 – 6 PM, USCCA will present its Self-Defense Aftermath Workshop:

‘Every day Americans use their right to defend themselves and their families with self-defense.  Yet few people talk about what to expect AFTER the event,” USCCA said in an announcement. “From how the body responds to stressful events to what to say to 911 and when the police arrive, we cover it all so you know what to do in the immediate aftermath.” Information includes:

• What your body will go through during a violent attack
• 6 things that WILL happen when the police arrive
• Why your judgment may be clouded after a self-defense incident
• What to say to the police to help their investigation and keep you with your family
• And Live Q&A with a USCCA-Certified Instructor.

Both workshops are free, but seating is limited. Register on the USCCA website by clicking on the links above.  

Overview of firearms possession/carry/sale law in Vermont – The USCCA website offers an overview of Vermont’s permit/license scenario, in comparison with other states. Quoted verbatim, below… 

Vermont is a does-not-issue, constitutional carry state.

All gun sales must be completed through a licensed firearms dealer unless the transfer is to a family member. Buyers under 21 years old must have completed a Vermont hunters course (or equivalent) or be a member or former member of the military, active or veteran member of the National Guard, or law enforcement. Vermont does not require permits to purchase and has no firearms registration.

Both open carry and concealed carry are legal without a permit in Vermont. Any person 16 or older (although federal law requires the age to be 18) who can legally possess a firearm is allowed to carry openly or concealed. There is no distinction between resident or non-resident, both are allowed to carry without a permit in Vermont. Therefore, the state does not issue permits.

Self Defense – Vermont does not have a Castle Doctrine or a “stand your ground” law, but courts have consistently ruled that there is no duty to retreat when attacked in one’s dwelling.

If a person kills or wounds another under any of the circumstances enumerated below, he or she shall be guiltless:

• In the just and necessary defense of his or her own life or the life of his or her husband, wife, parent, child, brother, sister, master, mistress, servant, guardian or ward; or
• In the suppression of a person attempting to commit murder, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, burglary or robbery with force or violence.

[Vt. Stat. Ann. § 2305]