Urge Governor Scott to VETO S-55

As S-55 does nothing to bring Vermont into compliance with the FBI NICS program as required since 1998. Vermont has never properly reported those who have been adjudicated mentally defective or have been committed to a mental institution (see ATF form 4473 #11f). All of the recent deaths were committed with firearms that were supposedly legally purchase although the failures of Law Enforcement and the FBI allowed the sales to happen.

In addition we now have people who commit drug crimes and felonies who go through court diversion and although they may finish with a "clear" record they should still be a restricted person by FBI NICS standards. Any discussion of Universal Background Checks need to include this reporting element and a plan to bring the state into compliance.

Bumpstocks as an accessory on a firearm were purchased legally at the time of purchase and many people paid upward of $400 or more for these devises and to effective take them without just compensation for the public use or good (as been said for safety) is a violation of Constitutional rights. Any discussion requiring individuals to give up legally owned property needs to have just compensation attached.



Normal capacity magazine as those which are usually included with the firearm new from the manufacturer are what every law abiding Vermonter should be able to own and use especially for personal defense. Many people have opted for rifles with frangible ammo for home defense as they are easier to aim and control. How many rounds do they need, as many as it takes to stop some meth head who has broken into their home at 2am.
The description of magazine feeding devices would effectively make many firearms un-repairable such as pistol caliber rifles with a tubular magazine regardless of action type. The Winchester 1892 style rifle in pistol calibers like the 44-40 or 45 colt can home more than 10 rounds and a damaged magazine tube is not something that can be easily fixed.

Vermont has a long tradition of being low in crime, high in firearms ownership and few restrictive laws. I don't see the legislature requiring speed limiters and studded tires on cars in the winter and those would save many more lives than all the gun laws you could dream up.

Deal with the problem of society, more programs for kids, better mental health. But Govenor Scott, VETO S-55 please for the soul of Vermont and for all we have always stood for, put a stop to this knee jerk movement and lets find real solutions with logic and sanity that does not divide the state.