Delaware: Governor Markel Attempting to Force Legislation Through the General Assembly Without Your Input!

Despite the commitment by the House Judiciary Committee last Wednesday to work on amendments to House Bill 46, a bill intended to “dispose” of abandoned firearms, Governor Jack Markell and his staff are attempting to railroad the Committee’s work.  The Governor's staff held a closed door meeting today with certain members of the House Judiciary Committee to draft amendments with no participation by the NRA. They are also trying to push HB 46 to the House floor for a vote as early as this week.

This attempt by Governor Markell to ram a bill through the General Assembly without providing Delaware citizens an adequate and fair opportunity to comment on possible amendments is a slap in the face to the legislative process.

The true intent of HB 46 is the destruction of firearms, not their disposal. In a March 30 article in the News Journal, the deputy secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security stated; “If the gun is not claimed, the bill would allow the agency to have it destroyed by incineration,” said Liz Olsen, deputy secretary of the Department of Safety and Homeland Security.

Many states allow law enforcement agencies to sell abandoned firearms to Federal Licensed Dealers (FFL) so they may preserve historic and antique firearms while also allowing the locality to earn revenue. Delaware should be no different.

Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee listed below and your state Representative and respectfully urge them to hold this bill and give Delaware citizens the opportunity to view amendments before they vote to give government more power to destroy abandoned firearms.

House Judiciary Committee:

Melanie George (D-5), Chairman
Phone: (302) 744-4126
To e-mail, click here 

Rebecca Walker (D-9), Vice Chairman
Phone: (302) 744-4351
To e-mail, click here 

William Carson (D-28)
Phone: (302) 744-4113
To e-mail, click here 

Deborah Hudson (R-12)
Phone: (302) 744-4171
To e-mail, click here 

James Johnson (D-16)
Phone: (302) 744-4351
To e-mail, click here 

Clifford Lee (R-40)
Phone: (302) 744-4171
To e-mail, click here 

John Mitchell (D-13)
Phone: (302) 744-4351
To e-mail, click here

Dennis Williams (D-1)
Phone: (302) 744-4351
To e-mail, click here 

Lincoln Willis (R-29)
Phone: (302) 744-4033
To e-mail, click here

David Wilson (R-35)
Phone: (302) 744-4150
To e-mail, click here