| Bernard - As you likely know, S.4, which became the replacement for the vetoed S.30, has now passed the House and Senate with blazing speed. The text of S.4 can be seen here. Regarding section 1 (13 VSA 4023): The State of Vermont already had a statute, 13 VSA 3705, that works to keep guns out of hospitals. When the bill was initially submitted it also included Day Cares and Government buildings – but those facilities were later removed because their representatives indicated that 3705 worked very well for them. In regards to how 4023 will be enforced: It is an identical process to 3705. With 3705: Law Enforcement could be called without any need to confront anyone, and Police could then use discretion to resolve a conflict, with the outcome being fines and even jail time if the situation could not be amicably resolved. This as opposed to having strict liability, no discretion, no jail time and only a minor fine with 4023. We acknowledge that hospitals are places where emotions can run high. We do not however believe that this new law will stop violence in hospitals if someone is intent on carrying out such a heinous deed, and we conjecture that the number of people who may be cited under this new law will be zero. Regarding section 2 (13 VSA 4019): The VTFSC agrees that firearms should not be possessed by people who should not have them. We believed however that there was solid rationale for the Default Proceed to occur after 3 full business day as per Federal law, and that in those very rare situations where a firearm was allowed to be transferred due to a Default Proceed: They were followed up on by the FBI/ATF. Regarding Section 6 (15 VSA 1104): Studies show that violence decreases AFTER an RFA is filed. We know that temporary RFA cases are decided by the weight of a feather. We know that when a temporary RFA is granted, over 50% of the time those cases never go to a Final Hearing due to the cases being withdrawn or dismissed, which means property will be seized just to be given back within two weeks. We know that at one point, it was stated that it was a "rare" occurrence that a judge would order relinquishment in a temporary RFA, but we now know that these are now occurring with greater frequency. While we can now say that DV violence goes down after a RFA is filed for the simple reason that there is now visibility on that DV situation, we are deeply concerned that this may well foment violence when people have their possessions taken without the Due Process of law, without any liability for damage to those firearms being stored and transported back and forth. The VTFSC ask you to do the following: 1) Go to this webpage (The Governor's email contact form). 2) Fill in your name, email, street address & city, state zip. 3) In the Message Subject textbox, enter "Please VETO S.4" 4) In the Message textbox, enter you message, or you can highlight, then cut and paste the following: Governor Scott - While the change of 30 to 7 days was a step in the right direction with S.4, serious issues remain in sections 1, 2 and 6. With section 6 in particular, the concept of Due Process has been stepped on, and this does not align with current Federal Law. PLEASE: Veto S.4 5) Click the "I am not a Robot" checkbox, then click the Submit button.
S.4 passed the House, but not with a veto-proof majority; we still have a chance to kill this bill - Governor willing. Thanks & Best Regards Chris Bradley President & Executive Director – VT Federation of Sportsman's Clubs, Inc. www.vtfsc.org 
Best Regards, Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs
http://www.vtfsc.com/ | 
