GIFFORDS Celebrates Lifesaving Suicide Prevention Bill Becoming Law in Vermont
H.230 Prevails, Enhancing Gun Safety Measures Including Extreme Risk Protection Orders and Safe Storage
Washington DC — Today, GIFFORDS, the gun violence prevention organization led by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, celebrated Vermont Governor Phil Scott’s announcement that he will allow H.230 to become law without his signature. H.230 requires the safe storage of firearms to prevent children and other prohibited individuals from accessing firearms. The new law also allows family members to seek an extreme risk protection order to remove firearms from someone who is a danger to themselves or others and requires a 72-hour waiting period for gun purchasers.
Joe Platte, Giffords State Legislative Manager:
“This isn’t about politics—H.230 will save lives. Because of the leadership of Representative Alyssa Black and so many other Vermonters who have been affected by the tragedy of firearm suicide, Vermont is taking concrete steps in addressing the suicide epidemic with these commonsense policies. We also want to thank Speaker Jill Krowinski, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth, Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Sears, House Healthcare Committee Chair Lori Houghton, and House Judiciary Committee Chair Martin LaLonde for their support. Every legislator who voted for this law showed the courage to help keep Vermonters safe.”
Billy Clark, GIFFORDS Litigation Attorney
“H.230 is precisely the sort of commonsense measure that will save lives without infringing on any Vermonters’ constitutional rights. We applaud Governor Scott’s decision to allow this bill to become law.”
According to GIFFORDS Law Center’s Annual Gun Law Scorecard, Vermont holds a C- grade. In recent years, Vermont has made enormous progress by enacting universal background checks, passing an extreme risk protection law, raising the minimum age to purchase firearms, and limiting access to large-capacity magazines.
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