Gov. Scott signs Vermont gun bills: When new steps take effect

Corrections and clarifications: This article has been updated to clarify the effective date of the ban on purchasing magazines that can hold more than 10 or 15 rounds. The ban takes effect immediately, but Vermont gun dealers will be able to sell their existing stock, and people in Vermont will be allowed to purchase those magazines, until Oct. 1.

Gov. Phil Scott signed three bills Wednesday that will tighten Vermont's gun laws and empower authorities to remove weapons from dangerous situations.

Many of the restrictions would have been unimaginable in Montpelier political circles just two months ago, before the fear of a school shooting made the Republican governor rethink Vermont's permissive gun laws.

The bills moved quickly through the Legislature, and some elements will take effect immediately this week with the governor's signature.

When Scott signed S. 55, for example, all Vermont gun transactions between non-family members will be required to pass a background check. Other requirements take effect later this year.

Here's what to expect when the governor signs S. 55, S. 221 and H. 422 into law.

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Items that take effect immediately:

Three provisions will immediately restrict Vermonters' ability to purchase guns and magazines.

When the governor signs S. 55, Vermonters will no longer be allowed to import new rifle magazines that hold more than 10 rounds or pistol magazines that hold more than 15 rounds. Gun dealers will be allowed to sell their existing stock of magazines, and people will be allowed to purchase those magazines, until Oct. 1.

Residents will be allowed to keep any magazines they already own. This "grandfathering" provision has led some Vermont residents to rush to stock up on 30-round magazines.

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Gun-rights activists are already raising money to challenge the magazine restriction in court.

The bill also requires background checks for nearly all private gun transactions, beginning with the governor's signature. Vermont gun sellers and gun buyers will need to visit a federally licensed firearms dealer who is willing to conduct a background check for a "reasonable fee."

Immediate family members will be exempt from background checks, and the requirement will not apply to a person who gives a friend their guns to prevent "imminent harm."

People younger than 21 will no longer be allowed to buy a gun in Vermont unless they can show that they have completed a hunter safety course. Gun sellers will be expected to uphold the law or face up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

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Law enforcement officers, members of the military and veterans will be exempt from the age restriction.

The "extreme risk" bill, S. 221, will also take effect immediately with the governor's signature. This bill creates a court process to require people to relinquish their firearms for up to six months if they are at "extreme risk" of suicide or violence.

Vermont courts will be able to immediately process "extreme risk" cases, though official forms and procedures may take some time to finalize, according to the state Court Administrator's Office.

Items that take effect later:

Vermonters who own bump stocks, devices that increase the rate of fire of a semiautomatic rifle, have until Oct. 1 to get rid of them. Unlike the ban on high-capacity magazines, there will be no "grandfathered" bump stocks.

The Legislature has asked the Department of Public Safety to allow people to anonymously surrender their bump stocks ahead of the ban.

H. 422, the bill that expands police officers' power to remove firearms from the scene of a domestic assault arrest, is set to take effect Sept. 1.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum.