Lawmakers on Wednesday evening settled on a compromise in the fee bill about storage of guns and other weapons belonging to alleged domestic abusers.
The fee bill conference committee has not yet signed its final agreement but has settled on language on the firearms storage section. Advocates on both sides said they are happy to reach an agreement.
The gun storage section this session took on a life of its own, eliciting debate between anti-domestic violence advocates and gun rights groups about how people ordered not to possess firearms as a result of a relief from abuse order should be allowed to store their guns.
The measure began as a compromise between the Vermont Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence and the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, the state branch of the National Rifle Association. The Network pushed for this measure as a way to protect potential victims of domestic violence.
The goal was to create a system where people ordered not to possess firearms as the result of a relief from abuse order could store them safely. The fee bill created a set of fees law enforcement agencies could charge to cover the cost of storing the weapons.
The measure became more controversial than expected and the Senate Judiciary Committee took weeks reviewing it and hearing testimony from both sides.
The House and Senate versions emerged significantly different because the Senate developed more in-depth policy around gun storage procedures than the House, as well as different fees. The Senate version also allowed gun owners to store their weapons with a third party, such as a friend or relative.
The version agreed to Wednesday night is essentially the Senate version, except for two changes.
The Senate version allows a third party, such as a friend or relative, to store weapons of someone ordered not to possess them.
The conference committee’s first change is that the third party must explain to a judge how he or she will provide secure storage of the weapons.
The second change is that in the event the person required to relinquish the weapons somehow gains access to them, they will be turned over to police or a federally licensed firearms dealer.
“It’s a really important step in protecting the survivors of domestic violence,” said Sarah Kenney, associate director of public policy for the Network Against Domestic and Sexual Violence.
“Let’s just say, it’s the end,” said Evan Hughes, legislative liaison for the Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs. “The bill speaks for itself,” he added.
