Vermont H 200: An act relating to persons prohibited from possessing firearms

Bill Text

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VT LEG #378711 v.1
H.200 1
Introduced by Representative LaLonde of South Burlington 2
Referred to Committee on 3
Date: 4
Subject: Crimes; possession of firearms; prohibited persons 5
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to make 6
Vermont law consistent with federal law by prohibiting the possession of 7
firearms by persons who have been found by a court to pose a danger of harm 8
to themselves or others as the result of a mental illness, and increases the 9
penalties for second or subsequent offenses of firearms possession by 10
prohibited persons. 11
An act relating to persons prohibited from possessing firearms 12
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 13
Sec. 1. 13 V.S.A. § 4017 is amended to read: 14
§ 4017. PERSONS PROHIBITED FROM POSSESSING FIREARMS; 15
CONVICTION OF VIOLENT CRIME 16
(a) A person shall not possess a firearm if the person has been convicted of 17
a violent crime. 18
(b) A person who violates this section shall: 19

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(1) for a first offense, be imprisoned not more than two years or fined 1
not more than $1,000.00, or both; or 2
(2) for a second or subsequent offense, be imprisoned not more than 3
three years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both. 4
(c) This section shall not apply to a person who is exempt from federal 5
firearms restrictions under 18 U.S.C. § 925(c). 6
(d) As used in this section: 7
(1)(A) “Firearm” means: 8
(i) any weapon (including a starter gun) that will or is designed to 9
or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; 10
(ii) the frame or receiver of any such weapon; or 11
(iii) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer. 12
(B) “Firearm” shall not include an antique firearm. 13
(2) “Antique firearm” means: 14
(A) Any firearm (including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, 15
percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system) manufactured in or before 16
1898. 17
(B) Any replica of any firearm described in subdivision (A) of this 18
subdivision (2) if the replica: 19
(i) is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional 20
centerfire fixed ammunition; or 21

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(ii) uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition that 1
is no longer manufactured in the United States and that is not readily available 2
in the ordinary channels of commercial trade. 3
(C) Any muzzle loading rifle, muzzle loading shotgun, or muzzle 4
loading pistol that is designed to use black powder or a black powder substitute 5
and that cannot use fixed ammunition. As used in this subdivision (C), 6
“antique firearm” shall not include a weapon that incorporates a firearm frame 7
or receiver, a firearm that is converted into a muzzle loading weapon, or any 8
muzzle loading weapon that can be readily converted to fire fixed ammunition 9
by replacing the barrel, bolt, breechblock, or any combination thereof. 10
(3) “Violent crime” means: 11
(A)(i) A listed crime as defined in subdivision 5301(7) of this title 12
other than: 13
(I) lewd or lascivious conduct as defined in section 2601 of this 14
title; 15
(II) recklessly endangering another person as defined in section 16
1025 of this title; 17
(III) operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other 18
substance with either death or serious bodily injury resulting as defined in 23 19
V.S.A. § 1210(f) and (g); 20

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(IV) careless or negligent operation resulting in serious bodily 1
injury or death as defined in 23 V.S.A. § 1091(b); 2
(V) leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily 3
injury or death as defined in 23 V.S.A. § 1128(b) or (c); or 4
(VI) a misdemeanor violation of chapter 28 of this title, relating 5
to abuse, neglect, and exploitation of vulnerable adults; or 6
(ii) a comparable offense and sentence in another jurisdiction if 7
the offense prohibits the person from possessing a firearm under 18 U.S.C. § 8
922(g)(1) or 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20). 9
(B) An offense involving sexual exploitation of children in violation 10
of chapter 64 of this title, or a comparable offense and sentence in another 11
jurisdiction if the offense prohibits the person from possessing a firearm under 12
18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(1) or 18 U.S.C. § 921(a)(20). 13
(C) A violation of 18 V.S.A. § 4231(b)(2), (b)(3), or (c) (selling, 14
dispensing, or trafficking cocaine); 4232(b)(2) or (b)(3) (selling or dispensing 15
LSD); 4233(b)(2), (b)(3), or (c) (selling, dispensing, or trafficking heroin); 16
4234(b)(2) or (b)(3) (selling or dispensing depressants, stimulants, and 17
narcotics); 4234a(b)(2), (b)(3), or (c) (selling, dispensing, or trafficking 18
methamphetamine); 4235(c)(2) or (c)(3) (selling or dispensing hallucinogenic 19
drugs); 4235a(b)(2) or (b)(3) (selling or dispensing Ecstasy), or a comparable 20
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