The Latest: Vermont House votes to raise age for gun buys

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - The Latest on the Vermont House voting on gun restrictions (all times local):

8:55 p.m.

The Vermont House has voted to raise the legal age state residents can purchase guns from 18 to 21.

Vermont Public Radio reports the vote was one of several that followed a 10-hour debate by lawmakers on gun restriction legislation Friday. Final approval of the measure is scheduled for Tuesday.

The House also voted to expand background checks to private sales of firearms and to ban high-capacity magazines and devices known as “bump stocks” that allow semi-automatic guns to function like automatic guns.

Supporters and opponents of the legislation packed the House chambers.

The push for gun control legislation came after Vermont police broke up what they said was a plot by a Poultney teenager to shoot up the Fair Haven Union High School. He was arrested a day after the Feb. 14 shooting at a Parkland, Florida, high school that killed 17.

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6:08 p.m.

The Vermont House has voted to expand federal background checks to private sales of firearms and to ban high-capacity magazines and devices known as “bump stocks” that allow semi-automatic guns to function like automatic guns.

Vermont Public Radio reports that after a daylong debate on Friday, the House was still discussing other provisions of the gun restriction legislation, including whether to raise the legal gun-buying age to 21.

Members decided earlier in the day on Friday to vote on each of the bill’s provisions separately.

Gun sales to family members would be exempt from the background checks.

Gun rights groups wanted a public hearing on the bill but House Speaker Mitzi Johnson says there already have been public hearings on the issue at the Statehouse.

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5:30 p.m.

The Vermont House has voted to expand federal background checks to private sales of firearms and ban devices known as “bump stocks” that allow semi-automatic guns to function like automatic guns.

Vermont Public Radio reports that by Friday evening, the House was still debating and voting on other provisions of the gun restriction legislation, including whether to ban high-capacity magazines and to raise the legal gun-buying age to 21.

Members decided earlier in the day on Friday to vote on each of the bill’s provisions separately.

Gun sales to family members would be exempt from the background checks.

Gun rights groups wanted a public hearing on the bill but House Speaker Mitzi Johnson says there already have been public hearings on the issue at the Statehouse.

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10:49 a.m.

The Vermont House is debating gun restriction legislation that would ban high-capacity magazines and raise the legal gun-buying age to 21.

The measure on the House floor on Friday has exceptions for military service members, law enforcement officers and people who take a gun safety training course.

The proposal includes provisions to expand background checks to private sales of firearms.

The bill does not ban semi-automatic assault-style weapons; it bans magazines that hold more than 10 rounds. The measure would allow people who legally own higher-capacity magazines when the law takes effect to keep them.

Gun rights groups want a public hearing on the bill but House Speaker Mitzi Johnson says there already have been public hearings on the issue at the Statehouse.