The Vermont Statutes Online
The Statutes below include the actions of the 2024 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 004 : UNSERIALIZED FIREARMS AND FIREARMS FRAMES AND RECEIVERS [EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 28, 2025]
(Cite as: 13 V.S.A. § 4083)-
§ 4083. Unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearms, frames, and receivers [Effective February 28, 2025]
(a)(1) A person shall not knowingly possess an unfinished frame or receiver unless the unfinished frame or receiver has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title.
(2) A person shall not knowingly transfer or offer to transfer an unfinished frame or receiver unless the unfinished frame or receiver has been imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title.
(3) This subsection shall not apply to:
(A) a federal firearms licensee acting within the scope of the licensee’s license;
(B) possession or transfer of an unfinished frame or receiver for the purpose of having it imprinted with a serial number pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title; or
(C) an unfinished frame or receiver transferred to or possessed by a law enforcement officer for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
(b)(1) A person shall not knowingly possess a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title.
(2) A person shall not knowingly transfer or offer to transfer a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm that is not imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title.
(3) This subsection shall not apply to:
(A) a federal firearms licensee acting within the scope of the licensee’s license;
(B) possession or transfer of a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm for the purpose of having it imprinted with a serial number pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title;
(C) an unserialized frame or receiver transferred to or possessed by a law enforcement officer for legitimate law enforcement purposes;
(D) an antique firearm as defined in subsection 4017(d) of this title;
(E) a firearm that has been rendered permanently inoperable; or
(F) a firearm that was manufactured before 1968.
(c)(1) A person who manufactures a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm, including by a three-dimensional printer, shall cause the firearm, frame, or receiver to be imprinted with a serial number by a federal firearms licensee pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title.
(2) This subsection shall not apply to:
(A) a federally licensed firearms manufacturer acting within the scope of the manufacturer’s license; or
(B) possession or transfer of a firearm or frame or receiver of a firearm for the purpose of having it imprinted with a serial number pursuant to federal law or section 4084 of this title.
(d)(1) A person who violates subdivision (a)(1) or (b)(1) of this section shall be:
(A) for a first offense, assessed a civil penalty of not more than $50.00;
(B) for a second offense, imprisoned for not more than two years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both; and
(C) for a third or subsequent offense, imprisoned for not more than three years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both.
(2) A person who violates subdivision (a)(2), (b)(2), or (c)(1) of this section shall be:
(A) for a first offense, imprisoned for not more than one year or fined not more than $500.00, or both;
(B) for a second offense, imprisoned for not more than two years or fined not more than $1,000.00, or both; and
(C) for a third or subsequent offense, imprisoned for not more than three years or fined not more than $2,000.00, or both.
(3) A person who uses an unserialized firearm while committing a violent crime or while committing reckless endangerment in violation of section 1025 of this title shall be imprisoned for not more than five years or fined not more than $5,000.00, or both. (Added 2023, No. 120 (Adj. Sess.), § 1, eff. February 28, 2025.)
