The Vermont Statutes Online
The Vermont Statutes Online have been updated to include the actions of the 2023 session of the General Assembly.
NOTE: The Vermont Statutes Online is an unofficial copy of the Vermont Statutes Annotated that is provided as a convenience.
Title 13 : Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Chapter 085 : Weapons
Subchapter 003 : Unauthorized Military Training
(Cite as: 13 V.S.A. § 4071)-
§ 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.)
