Vermont Makes Hunting With Suppressors Legal…For Good

Vermont finally legalized hunting with suppressors back in 2022, but the bill contained a two-year “sunset” provision. That was apparently needed to get the necessary votes to pass the law because too many Vermont legislators seem to believe what they see in movies and think that secret agents might use suppressors to carry out clandestine assassination attempts across the Green Mountain State.

Now, almost two years later, more legislators have seen reason (what are the odds?) and enough of them have apparently been convinced that suppressors really are basic hearing safety devices that anyone should be able to access. They’ve passed — and Governor Phil Scott has signed into law — a repeal of that superfluous sunset provision ensuring that Vermonters can continue to hunt in relative quiet for good.

Our friends at the American Suppressor Association issued this announcement . . .

On June 6th, 2024, Governor Phil Scott (R-VT) signed H. 878 into law, removing the two-year sunset provision from S. 281 that temporarily legalized the use of suppressors while hunting in Vermont. With the enactment of the new law hunters in The Green Mountain State no longer have to worry about losing their right to protect their hearing in the field. 

The ASA-backed pro-suppressor provision of the omnibus bill was championed by none other than Representative Pat Brennan (R-Chittenden-9-2). For over a decade, Rep. Brennan has been a stalwart supporter of suppressor rights. Not only did he lead the charge, alongside Rep. George Till (D-Chittenden-3), to allow hunters to use suppressors in 2022, he was instrumental in the legalization of suppressor ownership in Vermont in 2015. 

“Working with Representative Brennan over the past twelve years has truly been one of the greatest privileges and honors of my career,” said Knox Williams, Executive Director of the American Suppressor Association. “His tireless work and unwavering dedication is the reason why law-abiding citizens in The Green Mountain State no longer have to choose between jeopardizing their hearing and exercising their Second Amendment rights. What he was able to accomplish is nothing short of extraordinary. The suppressor community, as well as the people of Vermont, will forever be in his debt.”