Senate Bill 221 Would Establish A Red Flag Law and House Bill 422 Would Disarm Abusers At the Scene of Domestic Violence Incidents; Bills Follow Gun Safety Package Passed Last Week
MONTPELIER, Vt.– The Vermont chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement applauding Vermont lawmakers for unanimously passing Senate Bill 221 and House Bill 422.
Senate Bill 221 creates a Red Flag law that empowers law enforcement to work with the State’s Attorney or Attorney General to request an Extreme Risk Protection Order that would temporarily restrict a person’s access to firearms to prevent them from harming themselves or others. This life-saving tool can help prevent mass shootings and gun suicide and keep warning signs from escalating into tragedies. More information about Red Flag legislation is available here.
House Bill 422 would protect survivors of domestic violence by empowering law enforcement to temporarily remove firearms from domestic violence situations before abusers use them to harm their families, law enforcement officers or others.
These bills will join Senate Bill 55 — a sweeping package of gun safety bills that includes a requirement for background checks on all gun sales, prohibiting the sale of high capacity magazines and bump stocks to help reduce the lethality of shootings, and raising the minimum age to purchase firearms to 21 — on Governor Scott’s desk for signature.
STATEMENT FROM ALI HARTMAN, VOLUNTEER WITH THE VERMONT CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“The unanimous passage of these bills represents a major historic moment for Vermont. We are thrilled that Vermont lawmakers, particularly House and Senate leadership, have risen to the occasion and responded to calls from gun violence prevention advocates in Vermont and across the country to enact gun safety legislation. These bills will protect domestic violence survivors and their families, and create a Red Flag law that will help prevent potential tragedies such as mass shootings and gun suicides. We look forward to Governor Scott quickly signing these lifesaving pieces of legislation into law.”