Vermont to Require NON-Gun Owners to Pay Fine?

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rwellbaum

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I think this is a great idea!

http://2012thebigpicture.wordpress.com/2013/01/06/vermont-to-require-non-gun-owners-to-pay-a-fine/

HOW ABOUT VERMONT? … register “non-gun-owners” and require them to pay a $500 fee to the state
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.
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 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. ” America is at that awkward stage. It’s too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the ********.”
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. Sounds reasonable to me! Non-gun owners require more police to protect them and this fee should go to paying for their defense!
 
Oh yeah because us having more random acts of violence means we need more gun owners. Next time there is a school shooting we can all sit back and say, "Well I'm glad I have my .22 at home still!" Like it's going to make a difference. I hope all the innocent people that've died in the past 10 years in the states are worth it so you can 'enjoy your freedom'.


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yes well done indeed! i wish more states would do this...

While it is a novel idea, this law has not been passed and almost certainly never will be. Besides the fact that this would go against the idea of personal liberties, it would also require gun registration - something that most gun owners/enthusiasts are not real keen on....
 
In this issue grand standing on both sides has not helped.

Well said.

it would also require gun registration - something that most gun owners/enthusiasts are not real keen on....

Really? Every gun owner that I know personally, has absolutely no problem with registering their legal weapons. Just like registering their cars.
 
Well said.



Really? Every gun owner that I know personally, has absolutely no problem with registering their legal weapons. Just like registering their cars.

I don't think all my friends that own guns would be glad to register their guns, but probably most would. I personally wouldn't mind - right now I own a shotgun only but I've owned a few rifles/shotguns and one pistol over the years. I agree that it is really not that big of a deal to register something with the state, I have to register my car, my Zodiac, and my rowboat (I put an electric motor on for trolling) I even have to be licensed to buy/posses model rocket engines when they get over a certain size. The worst part is the cost - even if gun registration were free at first, you know they would eventually figure out a way to attach a fee. I would hate to have to pay to own my rusty old 20 gauge....

However, gun registration is seen as "gun control" by many people and therefore is an infringement of one's constitutional rights. Most gun advocacy groups are dead-set against it, aren't they?
 
However, gun registration is seen as "gun control" by many people and therefore is an infringement of one's constitutional rights. Most gun advocacy groups are dead-set against it, aren't they?

Yeah, I could see that. I guess I just don't run in those circles enough. I definitely agree about the fee tho... and that this bill will never pass.
 
As an avid gun enthusiast I think the bill is silly and will go nowhere....I also think there are other reasons that the state of Vermont has such a low crime rate aside from their lax gun laws and high numbers of ownership.


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