Proposed bill would require gun ownership in Vermont

[choctaw]

Vermont State Rep. Fred Maslack has read the Second Amendment to the U.S.Constitution, as well as Vermont 's own Constitution very carefully, andhis strict interpretation of these documents is popping some eyeballs in NewEngland and elsewhere.

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

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

[dieseldan2005]

Heck Yeah, i hope this passes. Can you imagine what this would do to those liberal anti gun freaks. This is really a different twist on things, great find Mike!!

[RJM06590]

Thats awesome wish others would follow their lead, but some people shouldn have guns like gangs etc

[choctaw]

Originally Posted by RJM06590

Thats awesome wish others would follow their lead, but some people shouldn have guns like gangs etc

Evens the playing field, my friend. Would you be a gun totin' gansta' knowing everyone else had a gun. Crime will drop, proven fact.

[dieseldan2005]

I would imagine that there would still be background checks to make sure that felons and such wouldn't get them. Overall this is a BIG step forward if it passes. Everyone should e-mail this man and tell him he has the nations support regardless of which state you are from.

[dieseldan2005]

Originally Posted by choctaw

Evens the playing field, my friend. Would you be a gun totin' gansta' knowing everyone else had a gun. Crime will drop, proven fact.

[RJM06590]

True i agree

[Goose350]

Kennesaw, Ga

[adfields]

Good deal, but I must point out that Alaska requires no CCW and I believe is the most gun law free state. Heck convicted felons can own a hunting rifle here the day they get out if the local trooper office doesn’t protest it. The reason I moved to Alaska was the gun laws and I did look very closely at all the states. Alaska is best for gun freedom with a couple New England states and Montana close behind, Hawaii is worst followed by California as second worse.

[Austin G]

SO moving there!