An act relating to requiring a license to purchase a semiautomatic firearm

This bill would require individuals in Vermont to obtain a license from the Department of Public Safety before purchasing a semiautomatic firearm. To get a license, applicants must submit fingerprints, provide criminal and mental health history information, complete an approved firearms safety training course, and pay a $35 fee, with the Department reviewing applications within 90 days. The license is valid for two years and must be renewed, and sellers are prohibited from selling semiautomatic firearms to unlicensed individuals. The law defines semiautomatic firearms as weapons that use cartridge energy to eject spent casings and require a separate trigger pull for each shot, and it takes effect on July 1, 2024.