Vermont Statutes Title 13 Sec. 4071
Terms Used In Vermont Statutes Title 13 Sec. 4071
- Civil disorder: means any public disturbance involving acts of violence by an assemblage of two or more persons that causes an immediate danger of or results in damage or injury to the property or person of any other individual. See
- Incendiary device: means a device so constructed that an ignition by fire, friction, concussion, detonation, or other method may produce destructive effects primarily through combustion rather than explosion. See
- Justice: when applied to a person, other than a Justice of the Supreme Court, shall mean a justice of the peace for the county for which he or she is elected or appointed. See
- Person: shall include any natural person, corporation, municipality, the State of Vermont or any department, agency, or subdivision of the State, and any partnership, unincorporated association, or other legal entity. See
§ 4071. Paramilitary training prohibited
(a) A person shall not:
(1) teach, train, or demonstrate to any other person the use, application, or making of a firearm, explosive, or incendiary device capable of causing injury or death, or techniques capable of causing injury or death to persons, if the person knows or reasonably should know that the teaching, training, or demonstrating is intended to be used in or in furtherance of a civil disorder; or
(2) assemble with one or more other persons for the purpose of practicing or being taught, trained, or instructed in the use, application, or making of a firearm, explosive, or incendiary device capable of causing injury or death, or in techniques capable of causing injury or death to persons, if the person knows or reasonably should know that the practicing, teaching, training, or instruction is intended to be used in or in furtherance of a civil disorder.
(b) A person who violates this section shall be imprisoned not more than five years or fined not more than $50,000.00, or both.
(c) This section shall not apply to:
(1) activity engaged in for legitimate law enforcement purposes by a federal law enforcement officer or a law enforcement officer certified as a law enforcement officer by the Vermont Criminal Justice Council pursuant to 20 V.S.A. § 2358;
(2) lawful activity engaged in by students at Norwich University or any other educational institution where military science is taught as a prescribed part of the course of instruction;
(3) any activity undertaken without knowledge of or intent to cause or further a civil disorder that is intended to teach or practice self-defense or self-defense techniques, including karate clubs, self-defense clinics, and similar lawful activity;
(4) any facility, program, or lawful activity related to firearms instruction and training that is intended to teach the safe handling and use of firearms; or
(5) any lawful sports or activities related to the individual recreational use or possession of firearms, including hunting pursuant to 10 V.S.A. § part 4, target shooting, self-defense, and firearms collection. (Added 2023, No. 13, § 1, eff. May 8, 2023.)