Governor Peter Shumlin wants to improve the ability of law enforcement to take and store firearms belonging to alleged perpetrators of domestic violence.
People who are subject to ‘relief-from-abuse’ orders are not allowed to possess firearms, which Shumlin calls an important safeguard when emotions are running high.
Shumlin and other backers say the need for improved enforcement is evidenced by a recent spate of domestic violence crimes. Essex Representative Linda Waite-Simson explains why a change is needed:
“If you talk to many of our judges who sit in family court they will tell you that this is a problem," Waite-Simson said. "They order firearms to be relinquished, and often they are relinquished, given to a family member who then turns around and gives them right back.”
Now Shumlin wants legislation to provide Vermont sheriffs the resources, including space, to store weapons belonging to people subject to such orders.
Washington County Sheriff Sam Hill agrees there’s a need for such a facility:
“Some people may have one weapon, some people may have hundreds of weapons. So we have to have appropriate storage for those, for as the governor said, when the order expires or when things change and the person is eligible to have those firearms back,” said Hill.
The measure Shumlin is promoting would set up a $75,000 dollar fund to help establish storage. It would also levy a fee on people whose weapons are stored to replenish that fund.
