Current Legislation

150TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY LEGISLATION

HB63 (Oppose) - "Safe Storage Bill"
Bill Sponsors

Sen. SturgeonTownsend
Rep. Bentz

Committee (House Judiciary Committee):

Committee (Senate Executive Committee):

 

Bill Summary
This Act revises the crime of “unlawfully permitting a child access to a firearm,” an existing class A misdemeanor under Delaware law. The offense is renamed “unsafe storage of a firearm” to place emphasis on firearm safety and proper storage. Under the revised statute, a crime is committed when a person intentionally or recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm where a minor or other person prohibited by law, or “unauthorized person,” can access the firearm, and the unauthorized person obtains the firearm. The unauthorized person’s use of the firearm to inflict serious physical injury or death is not an element of the offense, but is an aggravating factor. For the purposes of this offense, “stores and leaves” does not include when firearm is carried by or under the control of the owner or another lawfully-authorized user. Under this Act, the offense is a class B misdemeanor if there are no aggravating circumstances. If, however, the unauthorized person uses the firearm to commit a crime, uses the firearm to inflict serious physical injury or death upon anyone, or transfers the firearm to another unauthorized person, the offense is a class A misdemeanor. It is an affirmative defense that the person stored the firearm in a locked container, disabled it with a tamper-resistant trigger lock, or stored it in a location a reasonable person would have thought was safe from access by unauthorized persons. This Act provides an exception for firearms manufactured in or before 1899, or a replica to such firearms, if the replica is not designed or redesigned for using rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition. This Act also makes technical changes to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.

Link:
https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=47156

Status

Passed by House and passed by Senate with an amendment.
Returned to house with amendment
SB 68 (Oppose) "Semi Auto Ban"
Bill Sponsors

Sen. McDowell
Rep. Chukwuocha

 

Committee (Senate Executive Committee):

Senator David B. McBride (Chair)
302-744-4167
David.McBride@delaware.gov

Senator Nicole Poore (Vice Chair)
302-744-4114
Nicole.Poore@delaware.gov

Senator Harris B. McDowell
302-744-4147
Harris.McDowell@delaware.gov

Senator Bryan Townsend
302-744-4114
Bryan.Townsend@delaware.gov

Senator Catherine Cloutier
302-744-4114

Senator Gerald W. Hocker
302-744-4114
Gerald.Hocker@delaware.gov

 

Bill Summary
Bans certain semi-auto firearms.   Creates a registry oof those firearms and their owners

Link: https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail/26474

Status

Senate committee hearing was May 8, 2019.   Still in committee

SB 70 (Oppose) "Magazine Ban"

 

Sen. TownsendMcDowell
Rep. Baumbach

Sen. Sturgeon
Reps. BentzBoldenChukwuocha

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO DEADLY WEAPONS.

Committee (Senate Executive Committee):

Senator David B. McBride (Chair)
302-744-4167
David.McBride@delaware.gov

Senator Nicole Poore (Vice Chair)
302-744-4114
Nicole.Poore@delaware.gov

Senator Harris B. McDowell
302-744-4147
Harris.McDowell@delaware.gov

Senator Bryan Townsend
302-744-4114
Bryan.Townsend@delaware.gov

Senator Catherine Cloutier
302-744-4114

Senator Gerald W. Hocker
302-744-4114
Gerald.Hocker@delaware.gov

Bans all magazines or amunituin feeding devices with a capacity greater than 15 rounds.    Creates a “Buyback” program that will pay $10 for each magazine. After enactment, possession of large-capacity magazine will be a class B misdemeanor for a first offense and a class E felony for any subsequent offense. Those who possess a prohibited large-capacity magazine when this Act takes effect must, by June 30, 2020, relinquish the large-capacity magazine to a law-enforcement agency in this State.

 

Link:http://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?legislationId=47325

Status

Assigned to Senate Executive Committee, Hearing was May 8. 2019.   Still in committee.

SB 82 (Oppose) Permit to Purchase a firearm (Replaces SB 69)

Sen. TownsendMcDowell
Reps. GriffithBentz

Sen. LockmanSokola
Reps. BaumbachBolden

Committee (Senate Executive Committee):

Senator David B. McBride (Chair)
302-744-4167
David.McBride@delaware.gov

Senator Nicole Poore (Vice Chair)
302-744-4114
Nicole.Poore@delaware.gov

Senator Harris B. McDowell
302-744-4147
Harris.McDowell@delaware.gov

Senator Bryan Townsend
302-744-4114
Bryan.Townsend@delaware.gov

Senator Catherine Cloutier
302-744-4114

Senator Gerald W. Hocker
302-744-4114
Gerald.Hocker@delaware.gov

Replaces the previously introduced gun control measure, Senate Bill 69.  Like SB 69, this bill would impose a requirement that individuals obtain training and a permit in order to purchase a firearm in Delaware.  Not only does this place another arbitrary hurdle on what is a Constitutionally-guaranteed right, it is a dangerous practice that could slow an individual’s ability to purchase a firearm for self-defense when they need it most.  SB 82 is an egregious attempt to create more avenues to deny someone their Second Amendment rights, including discriminating against those who are financially less fortunate.

Link: http://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?legislationId=47399

Status

Assigned to Senate executive Committee, committee hearing was May 8, 2019.   Still in committee

SS1 for SB 68 (Oppose) Semi Auto Ban

5/9/19

Sen. McDowell 
Rep. Chukwuocha

Committee (Senate Executive Committee):

Senator David B. McBride (Chair)
302-744-4167
David.McBride@delaware.gov

Senator Nicole Poore (Vice Chair)
302-744-4114
Nicole.Poore@delaware.gov

Senator Harris B. McDowell
302-744-4147
Harris.McDowell@delaware.gov

Senator Bryan Townsend
302-744-4114
Bryan.Townsend@delaware.gov

Senator Catherine Cloutier
302-744-4114

Senator Gerald W. Hocker
302-744-4114
Gerald.Hocker@delaware.gov

 

 

Link: http://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=47464&fbclid=IwAR3hH8-MImHp-RLrv5-aAScgtnNOvOblecWfouIlnFvXgn7w-hYExexdraA

Status

5/9/19 Adopted in lieu of the original bill SB 68, and Assigned to Executive Committee in Senate
New Bill