URGENT Gun Safety Legislation

From Bill Kuch at state messaging team:

Message team:

I am resending this message, with a few minor changes, because of its urgency. And sending it to everyone. Some of us have acted already. Thanks!! But we need to do more.

We need to support the legislation in the Senate and soon to be in the House.

S.6 and S. 221.

Because of the urgent, immediately-this-week nature of the support we need to provide LTEs are not suitable right now. After the break will be the time for letters. We can certainly write and send them now but phone calls and social media posts are more immediate.

Also; for anyone who needs it you can find your Representative(s) and Senator(s) at https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/search/2018

Also talking points. Take anything and post on Facebook, Tweets, etc. 

Also— a list of these senators and their contact info. Send them emails or call them. And the phone number of the Sargent-at-Arms at the State House. Leave a message for any of these legislators. 802-828-2228

Here are the three original bills.
Senate Bill S.221: Extreme Risk Protection Order This bill proposes a procedure for law enforcement to obtain an extreme risk protection order… that would prohibit a person from possessing a firearm for up to one year if the Family Division of the Superior Court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person poses a significant danger.

Senate Bill S. 6: Background Checks: This bill proposes to require that a background check be conducted on the proposed transferee before a firearm may be transferred…. unless the transfer is between immediate family members. This may be attached to another bill.

House Bill H. 422: Remove weapons from person cited for domestic assault This bill proposes to require a law enforcement officer to confiscate a dangerous or deadly weapon from a person who is arrested or cited for domestic assault.

422 & 221 have been combined.

Talking points

•    helping those at risk of misusing their guns

•    helping those who might be hurt by that misuse

*    help to prevent domestic violence

•    reducing the number of guns diverted to illegal markets, and
•    providing relief to the rest of us who honor the responsibilities that gun ownership
      demands.

•     An overwhelming majority of Vermonters support increase gun safety laws

Six senators said they would vote against it: 
Joe Benning (R-Caledonia) jbenning@leg.state.vt.us
Brian Collamore (R-Rutland)  bcollamore@leg.state.vt.us
Alice Nitka (D-Windsor) anitka@leg.state.vt.us
John Rodgers (D-Essex/Orleans) jrodgers@leg.state.vt.us
Dick Sears (D-Bennington) rsears@leg.state.vt.us
Bobby Starr (D-Essex/Orleans)  rstarr@leg.state.vt.us

Five senators said they were undecided. Some of those said that they had not yet read the bill, known in its current form as S.6, or that they wanted to see if there would be other proposals attached to the measure. Those senators included: 
Randy Brock (R-Franklin)  rbrock@leg.state.vt.us
Jane Kitchel (D-Caledonia)  janek45@hotmail.com
Dick Mazza (D-Grand Isle) 802) 863-1067  (802) 862-4065
David Soucy (R-Rutland) dsoucy@leg.state.vt.us
Richard Westman (R-Lamoille) rawestman@gmail.com