The House Judiciary Committee in Vermont has moved a bill aimed at tightening gun laws, following a close vote largely divided by party affiliations. The legislation passed on a Friday deadline, necessitating committee approval for any chance at becoming law. The committee saw unanimous support from its six Democratic members, including Chair Martin LaLonde from South Burlington, while the five Republican members opposed the measure.

One of the key elements of the proposed law is a provision that would prohibit individuals under a current court order requiring outpatient mental health treatment from purchasing or owning firearms. This aspect has sparked significant debate, particularly from Republican representative Zak Harvey of Castleton, who expressed his frustrations about the Democrats’ refusal to modify this part of the bill despite his calls for compromise.

Harvey noted that if this restriction were removed, Republicans might have been inclined to support the legislation.

In addition, the bill seeks to criminalize firearm theft as a felony, increasing penalties for repeat offenses. For the first time, it would also outlaw the sale and ownership of machine guns and devices designed to convert firearms into machine guns.

Lead sponsor of the bill, Angela Arsenault from Williston, highlighted the necessity of this legislation by pointing to instances where individuals under treatment orders have committed violent crimes. She emphasized the lack of supervision for those in outpatient treatment despite being classified as dangerous, leading to the creation of this bill’s stipulation regarding firearm ownership.

If the legislation is enacted, individuals would regain their rights to purchase firearms after successfully completing their court-ordered treatment and no longer being deemed dangerous.

Support for the bill includes testimony from Suzanne Lurie, who recounted the tragedy of losing her father to gun violence, arguing that mental illness doesn’t inherently make individuals dangerous but that access to firearms can lead to tragic outcomes.

Conversely, Chris Bradley, the executive director of the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs, voiced concerns that the legislation might infringe upon Second Amendment rights, suggesting that if a court has allowed someone into the community, they should retain their right to own weapons.

However, according to Democratic representative Barbara Rachelson, the limited availability of mental health facilities complicates matters, leaving some individuals in outpatient treatment as potential risks for gun ownership.

Criticism regarding the bill’s expedited consideration arose from committee Republicans, who felt the process lacked adequate time for expert input. LaLonde acknowledged this criticism but underscored that procedural attacks are often a last resort when substantive arguments fail.