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Federation, NRA-ILA & NSSF Protecting VT Sportsmen's Bill of Rights In Vermont Senate Committee Hearing On Thursday morning, January 31st, the Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs the National Rifle Association - Institute for Legislative Action and the National Shooting Sports Foundation joined forces in opposing S. 98. The Federation offered testimony, supported by NRA-ILA and NSSF, before the Senate Government Operations Committee in strenuous opposition to S. 98. S.98 is a bill that would grant municipalities the power to enact charter changes that could endanger 24 V.S.A. Section 2295, commonly known as the Vermont Sportsmen's Bill of Rights. The Federation testimony related that in 1988 the legislature enacted 24 V.S.A. Section 2295 to end the patchwork quilt of different municipal ordinances regulating firearms, shooting, ranges, hunting, fishing and trapping around the state. See 24 VSA 2295 at Click here: The Vermont Statutes Online. Passing S.98 would grant Vermont's municipalities the power to circumvent the preemption law and to allow municipalities to once again ban or regulate the sale, transfer, possession, ownership of firearms, ammunition, reloading components, fishing and trapping equipment. The towns could also ban/restrict or license shooting, hunting, fishing and trapping. From Shaftsbury to St. Johnsbury the federation has represented the rights of sportsmen from illegal and unnecessarily restrictive local regulation. On one night in late 2007 the federation was present at two different municipal meetings in Williamstown and Williston to oppose the imposition of overly restrictive firearm discharge regulation ordinances. The Federation and NRA-ILA have battled against efforts to introduce this same legislation for a decade and in recent years have been joined by the NSSF. The senate committee was informed in prior testimony that the Vermont Attorney General Office holds S.98 as unconstitutional and Governor Jim Douglas opposes S.98. The Federation, NRA-ILA and NSSF also oppose P.3, a constitutional amendment proposal that also endangers 24 VSA Section 2295. It is the same threat to 24 VSA 2295, just a different legal vehicle. Both S.98 and P.3 face serious hurdles and the Federation, NRA-ILA and NSSF are closely monitoring any developments in the progress of these bills. If further action is required, an additional alert will report any need for your action.