Gun ownership in Vermont...

[Gil Marlin]

Folks: Vermont State Rep. Fred Maslack has read the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as Vermont 's own Constitution very carefully, and his strict interpretation of these documents is popping some eyeballs in New England and elsewhere. (He doesn't expect it to pass. - but it should....Milt).

Maslack recently proposed a bill to register "non-gun-owners" and require them to pay a $500 fee to the state. Thus Vermont would become the first state to require a permit for the luxury of going about unarmed and assess a fee of $500 for the privilege of not owning a gun

Maslack read the "militia" phrase of the Second Amendment as not only affirming the right of the individual citizen to bear arms, but as a clear mandate to do so. He believes that universal gun ownership was advocated by the Framers of the Constitution as an antidote to a "monopoly of force" by the government as well as criminals

Vermont 's constitution states explicitly that "the people have a right to bear arms for the defense of themselves and the State" and those persons who are "conscientiously scrupulous of bearing arms" shall be required to "pay such equivalent." Clearly, says Maslack, Vermonters have a constitutional obligation to arm themselves, so that they are capable of responding to "any situation that may arise."

Under the bill, adults who choose not to own a firearm would be required to register their name, address, Social Security Number, and driver's license number with the state. "There is a legitimate government interest in knowing who is not prepared to defend the state should they be asked to do so," Maslack says
(Milt Sez: This info is already available when subpoenaed,,,But just listen to the howls from the ACLU and others if it ever gets to the floor...).


Vermont already boasts a high rate of gun ownership along with the least restrictive laws of any state ... it's currently the only state that allows a citizen to carry a concealed firearm without a permit. This combination of plenty of guns and few laws regulating them has resulted in a crime rate that is the third lowest in the nation

"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

This makes sense! There is no reason why gun owners should have to pay taxes to support police protection for people not wanting to own guns. Let them contribute their fair share and pay their own way.

AMEN....Milt Nelson - NRA Life Member

[dbar]

Now thats cool make them own a gun or fine them bet this bill is going over good with the fed's they are trying to do just the opposite!!!!

[ConSeaMate]

I like it.............

[marlyn]

god bless vermont...

[gpomplin]

AMEN

[Vermonster]

I knew there was still something I liked about Vermont....

[IMAKECARSFAST]

vermont sound like a nice place..... too bad its soooooo small

i guess the mandate of guns is just a compensation for the states size!!!

[kelpbass_kid]

thats silly.

We can't complain about us having to register guns, yet applaud when the cards are turned

Hypocritical to say the least.

But thats ok, an armed America is better than an unarmed America

[gpomplin]

Hey brain storm lets form our own State, Mexico wont miss a chunk...

[The Jerry Dean]

Very good! Also Alaska does not require a permit for concealed carry.