BILL AS INTRODUCED H.20
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VT LEG #379323 v.1
H.20 1
SHORT FORM 2
Introduced by Representative Yacovone of Morristown 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Firearms; voluntary storage program 6
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish a 7
voluntary program in which persons in crisis would have the opportunity to 8
temporarily relinquish their firearms to federally licensed firearms dealers. 9
The program would include the following elements: 10
(1) Federally licensed firearms dealers in Vermont would have the 11
option to choose to participate in a temporary firearms storage program for 12
persons in crisis. 13
(2) A person experiencing a mental health or other relevant crisis could 14
bring their firearms to a participating firearms dealer for temporary 15
safekeeping. 16
(3) The program would authorize participating dealers to temporarily 17
store the person’s firearms until the person is no longer in crisis. The program 18
would provide criminal and civil immunity from liability to participating 19
dealers for any harm resulting from the dealer’s acceptance, storage, return, or 20 BILL AS INTRODUCED H.20
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VT LEG #379323 v.1
refusal to return the firearm, provided the dealer acts in good faith to follow 1
program rules and procedures. 2
(4) Persons who relinquish firearms to participating dealers through the 3
program would also receive immunity from liability for actions they take in 4
good faith reliance on program rules and procedures. Confidentiality 5
provisions in the program would allow persons to relinquish their firearms 6
without being stigmatized for being in crisis. 7
(5) Training would be provided to participating dealers in order to 8
provide them with sufficient relevant knowledge to exercise discretion when 9
determining whether to return a firearm that a person had stored with the dealer 10
pursuant to the program. 11
(6) The program would be designed to offer support to persons in crisis 12
by allowing them to safely and temporarily relinquish their firearms, thereby 13
reducing accessibility to firearms in moments of crisis and helping to lower 14
suicide rates in Vermont. 15
An act relating to establishing a voluntary firearms storage program for 16
persons in crisis 17
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 18
(TEXT OMITTED IN SHORT-FORM BILLS) 19