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December 23, 2009, 06:51 AM | #1 |
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Join Date: December 20, 2008
Location: Middletown, Connecticut
Posts: 28
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VT propose tax for non-gun owners
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 affirming 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 *******s." 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. Here is the bill: www.leg.state.vt.us/DOCS/2000...NTRO/H-760.HTM Introduced by Representative Maslack of Poultney Referred to Committee on Date: Subject: Executive; secretary of state; registration by citizens not owning firearms Statement of purpose: This bill proposes to require Vermont residents who do not own firearms to register with the secretary of state, and to pay a $500.00 fee if the person is also eligible for military service. These requirements do not apply to law enforcement officers or members of the armed forces. AN ACT RELATING TO REGISTRATION BY CITIZENS NOT OWNING FIREARMS It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: Sec. 1. 3 V.S.A. § 118 is added to read: § 118. REGISTRATION BY CITIZENS NOT OWNING FIREARMS (a) Residents of this state who are 18 years of age or older, and who do not own a firearm as defined in section 4016 of Title 13, shall be required to: (1) register with the secretary of state's office, the person's name, address, Social Security number, and driver's license number and state of issuance; and (2) pay a registration fee of $500.00 if the person is eligible for military service.
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Greg Emergency Dispatcher Police/Fire/EMS EMT Emergency Medical Tech State of Connecticut Carry Permit |
December 23, 2009, 07:39 AM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 2, 2005
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 3,943
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I think this was proposed back in 2000 or such...
link doesn't work for me to check it. Was kind of a fun idea though.
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December 23, 2009, 08:10 AM | #3 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 3, 2006
Posts: 475
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From what I can find out, there is no H-760 pending in the Vt House, Maslack is not a member of the current House and this bill was supposedly introduced when he was in office in 2000.
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