MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) Vermont on Wednesday raised the age to buy firearms, banned high-capacity magazines and made it easier to take guns from people who pose a threat the first significant gun ownership restrictions in state history, signed into law by the Republican governor.
Its a remarkable turnaround for the largely rural state that traditionally has refused to impose restrictions on gun ownership.
Standing on the Statehouse steps before hundreds of gun rights activists and supporters, Gov. Phil Scott signed the bills into law. Supporters shouted thank you, while opponents, many wearing hunter orange, shouted traitor! and booed the governor.
This is not the time to do whats easy, its time to do whats right, said Scott.
Scott, a gun owner, had urged the Legislature to pass gun restrictions in the aftermath of what police called a narrowly averted high school shooting in Fair Haven. Authorities said they learned a teen was planning to kill as many people possible. He was arrested and charged Feb. 15, the day after a school shooting in Florida that left 17 dead.
Scott said the incident proved to him that Vermont isnt immune from the school violence that has plagued other parts of the country.
This is one of those moments as a state when we have the opportunity to do things differently, Scott said.
