by Guy Page
Representatives pro and con will testify Thursday, Jan. 25 in the Legislature about S.209, also known as “Vermont’s Ghost Gun Act.”
The bill is sponsored by Sen. Richard Sears (D-Bennington), chair of Senate Judiciary, and 12 other senators, including Rutland Republican David Weeks.
Testimony begins 9 AM in Senate Judiciary. Scheduled to testify are Eric Davis, President, Gun Owners of Vermont; Joe Platte, State Legislative Director, Giffords: Courage to Fight Gun Violence; Justin Davis, Vermont State Director, NRA; Greg Lickenbrock, Senior Firearms Analyst, Everytown for Gun Safety.
This bill proposes to prohibit the possession and transfer of unserialized firearms and unserialized firearms frames and receivers, also known as ghost guns. The bill establishes a process that permits Federal firearms dealers and licensees to print serial numbers on unserialized firearms and unserialized firearms frames and receivers.
The bill also requires that proceedings against persons 14–21 years of age originate in the Criminal Division of the Superior Court if the person is charged with human trafficking, trafficking a regulated drug, carrying a firearm while committing a felony, or aggravated stalking.
S. 209 seeks to implement California-style policies that require serialization of firearm parts, the NRA said. “The ambiguous term “ghost gun” is an invention of anti-gun advocates to restrict the gun-rights of law-abiding citizens,” an NRA statement said.
If passed, this law would require law-abiding gun-owners to contact government agencies and obtain serial numbers whenever they purchase critical parts for their firearms. The NRA claimed the law will only impact law-abiding citizens because criminals will ignore this law and continue to obtain un-serialized firearms and firearm parts.
A prohibited individual is prohibited from owning a firearm regardless of how the firearm is assembled. Whether that possessed firearm was assembled in a factory, or assembled using a kit, does not change the fact that possession of that firearm is a criminal act.
“Vermont gun-owners should be allowed to repair firearms without being required to contact government agencies to obtain serializations for legally purchased parts,” the NRA said.