Vermont AG seeks to dismiss lawsuit over gun magazine law

Vermont has filed a motion to dismiss a legal challenge to new gun restrictions signed into law by Gov. Phil Scott earlier this year.

Attorney General T.J. Donovan says the law limiting the capacity of magazines for rifles and handguns is within state government's right to regulate. The Vermont Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, along with gun sellers and some individuals, have filed suit claiming the new limits violates Article 16 of the Vermont Constitution, which provides the right to have a gun for self-defense.

The case was filed in Washington County Superior Court. The state filed a motion to dismiss Tuesday.

"The state can impose resonable regulations on the possession of firearems, including regulating high-capacity magazines in the interest of gun safety, in the interest of public health, in the interest of public safety," Donovan said. "Other states have imposed high capacity magazine bans and they've all been upheld. This is nothing radical. This is in the interest of public safety. This is in the interest of public health."

A judge will review the motion and likely hear oral arguments before issuing a ruling.