FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2018

MEDIA CONTACT:
Andrew Patrick
apatrick@csgv.org
(p) 202-408-0061 Ext. 1017
(c) 828-712-7603

Governor Phil Scott Signs Vermont Extreme Risk Protection Order Act into Law

The signing by Vermont’s Republican governor makes Vermont the seventh state to establish a life-saving extreme risk law

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence Legislative Director Christian Heyne Issued the Following Statement:

“The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence applauds Governor Scott and the Vermont General Assembly on establishing an extreme risk protection order (ERPO) in Vermont.

“The research has shown that extreme risk laws save lives. They provide law enforcement a tool where they can work with courts to temporarily remove  guns from an individual at risk of harming themselves or others.

“Of the 78 gun deaths in Vermont in 2016, 69 of them were suicides by firearms. Based on the risk of violent behavior, Vermont officers will now be able to remove guns from someone in a suicidal crisis and allow them to seek help before it is too late.

“Once again, we congratulate Governor Scott, Senator Sears, Gun Sense Vermont and all that made this life-saving tool possible.”

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