State police are encouraging all Vermont residents to surrender their bump stocks without compensation. (Photo: Vermont State Police Facebook)
The Vermont State Police announced Monday that they would begin anonymous collection of bump stocks, which have been banned in the state following passage of a gun control bill by the state legislature.
“In compliance with that law, the Vermont State Police will allow members of the public to voluntarily surrender their bump-fire stocks anonymously at any of the 10 VSP barracks in the state,” Capt. Timothy Clouatre said in a release. “People may turn in the devices during regular business hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.”
The legislature has provided no path to legal ownership, and those who surrender their devices will not be reimbursed. Possession of a bump stock is punishable by up to one year in prison and a $1000 fine.
The bump stock ban is only a small part of S.55, which also raised the legal age to purchase a firearm to 21, limited legal magazine capacity, and required background checks for firearm sales to non-immediate family members.
The Democrat-controlled Vermont General Assembly passed the bill earlier this year in the wake of the Parkland massacre, but gun rights advocates were hopeful Republican Gov. Phil Scott would block at least parts of the anti-gun legislation.
That didn’t happen, and the supposedly pro-gun governor enthusiastically signed the bill.
SEE ALSO: Anti-gun Vermont Governor Under Fire from the ACLU for Deleting Pro-Gun Facebook Comments
“As Governor, I have a moral and legal obligation and responsibility to provide for the safety of our citizens,” he said in a statement earlier this year. “If we are at a point when our kids are afraid to go to school and parents are afraid to put their kids on a bus, who are we?”
There are an estimated 520,000 bump stocks in the United States, according to the ATF, and at least eight states have banned the device since the Las Vegas massacre last year, including Maryland, Connecticut, Washington, Florida, and New Jersey.
Compliance has remained almost nonexistent. Only three stocks had been surrendered by the February deadline in Massachusetts, and as of earlier this year, none (0) have been turned in since Denver and New Jersey banned the devices.
SEE ALSO: ‘Traitorous’ Gov. Phil Scott Catches Hell While Signing Vermont Gun Control Bills
Only Washington has instituted any kind of buyback program, and the state plans to offer $150 per surrendered device. The lack of compensation in other states is one of the causes of low compliance, according to Mark Pennak, the president of Maryland Shall Issue.
“You’re basically telling people to destroy their property,” Pennak told PEW. “If you take someone’s private property, you have to pay for it. They bought them just because they’re fun to use, and that’s it. You’re criminalizing a plastic item, and sending people to prison for three years for it.”
Vermont residents must detach the bump stocks from their rifles before surrendering them, and police plan to store them at whichever of the 10 State Police barracks the owners surrendered them to. Police say they will not record any information about those who surrender the devices.
First bump stocks then ammo and certain gun features and guns then plastic straws…get control of your political overlords or suffer the same hell us pro 2nd amendment people in California are living in…
Only way they are going to enforce this is by the publics willingness to turn them in. If not then they will go door to door after they check the records on whom bought what type of firearm. And you know they have a list somewhere secreted away regardless if there is a registry or not.
To me, the primary issue seems to be about safety. Commercial firearms, these days, are very safe, if handled correctly. Most firing range rules help avert harm to self and others, but those rules are only helpful if the user is sober of mind and has the intention of firing at the target downrange.
When I originally heard of the bumpstocks, I thought it would be cool to have one. But the more I thought it over, the more I realized how impractical it was, except for scaring the hell out of a large group of villains heading your way. Even in this scenario, what good would it do me, unless the bad guys happened to be grouped together? If “grouped” in a vehicle, I would not be able to identify the targets. So I decided to forget it.
That does not mean I wouldn’t want others to own one.
…. unless I happen to be on the gun range when someone else out there handed a bump-stocked rifle to a newbie!
Again, it really comes down to safety. A lot of people – even avid rifle users – are not going to be comfortable around them, unless they know the users have had practice SOMEWHERE ELSE.
I don’t like gun laws. Guns don’t harm others. But even people with good intentions are sometimes guilty of stupidity.
So what would be a good answer? I can’t come up with one in this case.
It’s interesting how democrats blame conservatives, the NRA and other entities for gun violence. But they never, ever blame Hollywood. Why? Hollywood is run by liberals. Back when we were more-or-less a “Christian nation”, we didn’t lock our doors at night. Now that we are a “progressive” nation, we are raising up generations of conscienceless monsters. With an apology to monsters.
The only thing that will stop these unconstitutional laws is to resist and no one turns in anything, no matter how we are threatened. The Constitution was written to prevent exactly what they are trying to do. If no one turns in anything, what are they going to do, put hundreds of thousands of law abiding citizens in prison. If law abiding citizens don’t resist and start acting like sheep next will be your guns.
To think I almost gave my life so these ignorant grand standing idiots can pass laws and enforce them too. I’m retired LEO and I’m glad I no longer am associated with other LEO’s of today. Always out for themselves. They better not ever come down my road where I reside or that government training will snuff many of them out. I have no respect for the way law enforcement represent themselves now. Especially Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department in Missouri
And how do they know how many bumpstocks are in the State? The answer is….. they don’t…. The attempt to confiscate this item is futile..except for the few people that turn them in voluntairily…. this is nothing more than “throw it at the wall and see what sticks” legislation….
The legislators who started all of this know full well that many household items can also be used for rapid fire. They had the facts explained to them in sixth grade English by their staffers. Instead they want a) to grandstand: “look what I did,” and b) to follow what their progressive puppeteers plan. It looks like rootless cosmopolitanism have moved to Vermont in force. So sorry.
The time is drawing to a close for a repeat of 19 April 1775.
Prepare to defend yourselves and your property.
I won’t get into the ban itself (which I think is bullsh*) however, To require people to turn in an item they legally purchased, at one point in time, yet offer no compensation, only the threat of imprisonment and fine? That is government run amok. That is what our founding fathers fought against. So it is no surprise there has been little to no compliance.
Police say they will not record any information about those who surrender the devices. they won’t have to they’ll have a picture of you and the tag number off your car or truck.
Who is the head of the GESTAPO in Vermont???
I`m confused. Did these devices have to be registered when purchased ? If not, are the police ready to conduct house to house searches for them ? I don`t live in that state,but I`d wager other states are watching, to see how it goes. I don`t own one of those things,or anything to mount one on. However, if this is allowed to stand, we all know it`s just the camels snotty nose under the tent. I am encouraged that so far, none have been turned in, and I hope that kind of response continues.
A political solution is no solution at all.
ALL of these “laws” are first off “ex post facto” making them null and void under the Constitution and DIRECTLY violate the 2nd amendment. Soo folks…be sure you get on juries and start nullifying this CRAP.
Compensation? That’s what Caig’s List is for. In a free market, someone who doesn’t want something of value (or is being coerced and threatened into no longer wanting to possess that item) can simply sell it to someone, somewhere where it is desired. In a similar vein, there was a gun buy-back at a police precinct a few years ago where the cops were giving $10 or $20 for anything turned in. A guy showed up and walked the line, buying good quality guns for twice as much, still a fraction of their real value. The cops were legally incapable of doing anything about it. I’d be tempted to do the same in the Peoples’ Democratic Republic of Vermont… if they had anyone lining up with their bump stocks.
I noticed the article said the state police will store them. They don’t plan on giving them back or they would have taken names. So, why store them? Why not destroy them? There only seems to be one logical purpose to storing them.
Today it’s a bump stock. Next year it will be another shooting and another gun law. Show them your submissive now and it means your going to comply when they outlaw barrels, receivers, or trigger parts. They will not outlaw the entire gun. Only it’s componant parts, anyone which make the gun unusable. That way they live up to their word of never taking our guns.
Only a massive show of defiance will work. Submission is death. Defiance is freedom
This is crazy if true. How is law enforcement going to enforce this law without compliance from the owners are they going to conduct bumpstock stops just as they do DUI stops? This whole law stinks and is going to get somebody killed down the line. This also shows the weak backbone of our elected officials they live in their own white ivory towers and hire the police to do their dirty work. Cowards.
I’m betting few get turned in…in any state that has outlawed them.
They will go into the safe/closet/basement/cabin and not get used in public.
Or they will be lost in a boating accident of some sort.
Inherent rights are not contingent on unconstitutional laws or public opinion. I do not care how many parents are “afraid to put their kids on a bus.” Inherent inalienable rights do not depend on fickle political winds.
The Vermont State Police participating in the confiscation are THUGS in violation of their constitutional oath. They are perjurers and should be prosecuted for such. The RINO “governor” is a dictator who should be impeached, tried, and imprisoned. I am not an expert on the Vermont constitution, but if it has a provision for treason, the governor and the legislators who voted for the bill to usurp the inherent right of the people to keep and bear arms should be tried under it. Upon conviction, they should face the death penalty.
I don’t think the colonists tried the British for treason at Concord Green. I”m pretty sure they just shot them. Maybe that is the way we need to deal with this insanity.
Yep.
The governor is guilty of signing an illegal law written by the .01% ruling class of the United States who fear an armed revolt against them and their agencies. Vermonters did not craft that law in a vacuum.
The State Police are going along with this? The Commander should tell the Governor to shove his illegal order up his……..
People should pay attention to this, those who say police would refuse to confiscate legally owned guns from law-abiding citizens in particular. Will it be ‘Jack-booted thugs’ or Peace Officers?
They better collect all the rubber bands, too.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5XzQ1BS7gU
Well I do not own a Bump, but I own a number of Macs and such that will bump if you want them to Climb The Pole. As for The Bump Stock, from day one I wondered how they ever approved the thing. No that ain’t Gun Control, gun control is a Tax Stamp, or Pay to Play.
At the war crimes trial in Nuremberg, it was solidly stated that to enforce an immoral law, one is as guilty as the one that made the law. Death camp guards were considered as guilty as Himmler. To say the they were only obeying orders did not excuse them for being tried as criminals. An VT police officer that enforces the law against the Consitution is guilty of violating the Consittution.
What happens when “We the People” can’t trust the politicians who swore an oath to defend our Constitution? We lose our rights. It appears that their governor did just that.
So we are going to be traitors, and ignore that oath we took to not only the constitution, but to the people and God almighty. Just because your state traitors pass what they think are laws, does not mean that they are law, and does not mean you should betray the people and commit treason. I suggest you make a stand in the opposite direction, and be real men and real officers and tell the legislators that you will not ignore your oath. But I don’t expect one of you to have the courage or balls to do so, for the paycheck comes first. Have you no personal pride, self respect left, no conscience, or soul? when you put money as your priority and ignore the real important things in life then you have reached the bottom.
Vermont’s motto………Freedom and Unity……this action kind of takes the shine off that motto
With this Vermont law our nation moves one step closer to a National Socialist Liberal Regime and the subsagation of its citizians. They have in effect turned their State Troopers into State Storm Troopers placing them against the very citizens who hired them. They are no longer working for the People but against them by being in support of an anti-Constitutional law and lining up with the Ratical left. They and their political masters in and of the state of Vermont can no longer be trusted.
All police are “AGAINST THE CITIZENS” with the exception of ICE and border patrol, police are killing Americans every day… police are scum and stormtrooper is a accurate description.
Communist is far more accurate than National Socialism. Too many states are trying to turn their police into KGB thugs. And when it comes down to it, the hammer and sickle are much worse than the swastika. I’m glad for the red white and blue. Let’s help America stay America.
The inexplicable refusal to read all 27 words in the 2nd, understand the meaning, and the denial that it all ties to Article 1, Section 8, Cls. 15&16 is part of the problem.
Significantly, almost all those who claim to be pro-2nd do not comprehend that if you removed the 2nd tomorrow it would not mean a thing. There is nothing in the Constitution that means anything at all without Militia. It is the People’s arm of authority, the ability “to execute the Laws of the Union”, and arrest those who violate the oath of office. How else do you contain government, and maintain freedom when those who supposedly represent us run afoul of the law?
Until the so-called pro-2nd community admits that they have been duped and are fatally ignorant on the subject, we’re going to loose ground and eventually all our rights.
The 2ndA is about the private ownership of firearms. The “militia” is every citizen. The National Guard is not the militia. It is a government controlled reserve for state emergency and regular military. Regulated is self regulated, not run by the gov. You gather 3-4 times a year, practice at least once a year and you’ve met the standard.
As a twenty five year, now retired, police officer I have this to say, I would kill any law enforcement trying to disarm me. Period.
Bump stocks are not like cellphones…. there can’t be 100 in the entire state.
Tyranny!! I don’t own a bump stock because 1> it would be fun to shoot but after a couple of range visits and paying for all the ammo it would grind through, I would decide it to be a conversation piece that would stay in the safe. 2> I wasn’t willing to pay $450 for a conversation piece, and this state is confiscating, not buying. These politicians are ignorant POS. They will probably decide that Panel vans are too dangerous to own because of the possibility of human trafficking and take those next. Or whatever. The precedent is being set.
Kinetic Energy is illegal?
If you look into the science of bump stocks, its pure physics of kinetic energy: action (one pull) and reaction (propulsion of gas exploding to move the device back, and cycles back)
This Clowns don’t look like they could take a Cookie from a little Girl.
Tyranny doesn’t deserve compliance.
Any state officer who enforces stupid, unconstitutional Democrat (read commie traitors) “laws” is as bad as them. The officers took an oath. Just because some raggedy brain-addled politicians Want to crap on their oaths doesn’t mean the cops should follow suit. These actions are akin to the Redcoats seeking the locations of the colonists’ guns, which led to the Battle of Lexington and Concord.
This is what happens when you State is invaded by Libtards… after the success of Bernie Sanders in that State this was not a great leap!
Dear Lord Jesus, I humbly pray that you do not send LE up my driveway.
“If it’s to begin, let it begin with me”
That’s what I say…
The ignorance of the people elected to RUN the government is astounding! You can accomplish the same effect of a bump stock with the belt loop on your pants!
Yes, belt loops should be banned, too! You must cut them all off and turn them into the local PD before next Wednesday to be compliant! If you don’t, 1 year in jail and a $10k fine!
Total ignorance does more damage than people realize.
“anonymous collection ” Does this mean they’re going to stage $25,000.00 Swat raids for a piece of plastic? This is the kind of insanity that fuels the insanity. By the way, if they find one they will seize and keep all of your guns.
Looks like every cop in Vermont will will now have a free bump stock for his AR
LOL!!!!! Yeah, right. I’m SURE all those people will comply!
I’m sure the lines will be stretching down the block with people just waiting to throw their money away. I’m not sure they can confiscate them without compensation. Isn’t there something in the that pesky document called the constitution that doesn’t allow it?
Politician don’t care about that old thing any more.
Just send your bump stock to family or friend out of state to wait until the criminals like the governor and other legislators are thrown out of office for not properly addressing school security. Put weapons in the hands of law abiding Americans!
what hapoened to ex post facto..and why aren’t they paying to get them …they were sold legally..bought legally…..it should be a buy back not a gimme
You’re forgetting that a buy back is pure garbage anyway. “Buying” these things back comes at the expense of tax revenue (regardless of how minimal). It’s essentialy: “here’s some of your own money (in addition to everyone else’s that we stole through taxes), now you give us your property.” It’s no different than if they were pissing on you and calling it “rain” IMHO
“Cold dead hands” comes to mind.
They have no idea how many are out there, and probably only know the names of a few that own them, so let’s see what their confiscation totals amount to…
Does this mean I have to take all the belt loops off my trousers? Yeah right, and when my pants fall down
because of the lack of a belt, they’ll arrests me of indecent exposure. Can’t trust these Democrats!
They`ll just think you`re one of them.
VT…sorry we lost you.
And no one turns theirs in…But wait, the politicians were so triumphant and victorious! Surely they had accomplished true crime fighting.
I wonder ten years from now when they look back, you think they will tout the statistic that no one in the last ten years died from a bump stock equipped rifle? Won’t mention of course that no one had in the ten years prior either.
Unconstitutional act. Let’s see what happens. What’s next, turn in your high capacity magazines or else?
Sad day in a once pro-gun state. This is the end result of an emotional rush to pass anti-gun legislation without thinking it through.
Molon Labe Biotches!