§ 4083.
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/vt/title-13/chapter-85/4083A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
§ 4083. Unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearms, frames, and receivers
(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.)