House Bill 35, legislation to criminalize private transfers of firearms, has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee and is scheduled to be heard next Wednesday. However, HB 35 has ALREADY been placed on the Senate floor agenda for next Thursday. Even before the committee hearing, anti-gun legislators hoping to force their agenda through the state Senate are treating passage of HB 35 as a foregone conclusion. Call your state Senator and Senate Judiciary Committee members to express your outrage that Delaware’s legislative process is not being respected and being compromised. The people of Delaware must have an opportunity to express their views. To assume that the Senate will place HB 35 on their ready list before the people have spoken and before the process is properly followed is offensive and insulting to both the citizens of Delaware and the members of this committee.
Like the anti-gun politicians in Connecticut and New York, they are obviously concerned about public scrutiny of this legislation. They are trying to rush its consideration and passage before law-abiding gun owners and sportsmen learn how it will affect and punish them - while having absolutely no impact on crime or criminal access and misuse of firearms. Experience has shown that gun control is NOT crime control.
House Bill 35, sponsored by state Representative Valerie Longhurst (D-15), passed in the Delaware House of Representatives by a 24-17 vote last month. This bill would criminalize virtually all private transfers of firearms by requiring a criminal background check be performed for the sale or transfer of all firearms. Background checks (subject to fees) would be performed by licensed firearms dealers who would be required to maintain records of such background checks in accordance with state and federal law. HB 35 is the first step toward the criminalization of all private firearm transfers.
HB 35 will affect law-abiding Delaware residents, and ought to be fully vetted in committee before it is sent to the Senate for approval. Hold your state legislators accountable: contact your Senator and members of the Senate Judiciary Committee immediately! Contact information for your state Senator can be found below.
Senate Judiciary Committee:
Senator Margaret Rose Henry (D-2), Chairman
(302) 744-4191
Senator Patricia M. Blevins (D-7)
(302) 744-4133
Senator Gregory F. Lavelle (R-4)
(302) 744-4048
Senator Harris B. McDowell III (D-1)
(302) 744-4147
Senator F. Gary Simpson (R-18)
(302) 744-4134
Senator Bryan Townsend (D-11)
(302) 744-4165
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