By: José Niño
On June 30, 2023, the Delaware State Senate passed three gun control measures and has vowed to join the State House and Governor John Carney in finalizing this legislation when the General Assembly goes back in session in January 2024.
Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 2 was passed in the Senate back in May. Should this legislation receive Carney’s signature, Delaware residents would be required to undergo a firearm training course and acquire a permit prior to buying a handgun.
Governor Carney announced that this bill will be one of his legislative priorities in 2024.
“There is nothing more important than keeping our communities safe,” declared Carney. “We continue to make progress here in Delaware around gun safety. I look forward to working with the General Assembly to pass and sign Senate Bill 2 into law in January.”
Additionally, House Speaker Valerie Longhurst has vowed to move SS-1 for SB-2 forward in 2024.
“For the past decade, we have passed some of the most comprehensive gun safety laws in the country, making Delaware a leader by strengthening our background checks, closing loopholes, banning assault-style firearms and large-capacity magazines, and instituting red flag laws. I’ve been proud to sponsor many of these bills and stand up to the gun lobby,” Longhurst stated. “I am committed to spending these next few months working with the Senate and governor’s office to pass permit to purchase when we return to session in January. This bill is the next piece of the puzzle to keeping our communities safe, and I’m looking forward to passing it into law.”
On June 30, the Senate passed legislation, House Bill 201, that turns firearm possession in a safe school and recreation zone into a felony. In the present, an individual can only receive charges for breaking the safe school and recreation zone firearm ban in the case they commit a separate offense.
Further, the Senate passed House Bill 202, legislation that would ban the possession and carry of firearms at active polling places. The only case in which firearms can be present at these locations is when a law enforcement officer, a sanctioned security guard, constable or active-duty military member acting in their official capacity are carrying firearms.
HB 202 would be applicable to all in-person elections. This includes general, primary, and special elections, local school elections, municipal elections, and locations set aside for early voting.
Dudley Brown, the president of the National Association for Gun Rights, commented on Delaware’s recent passage of gun control bills:
“Every branch of Delaware’s government is controlled by Democrats and unfortunately the party of gun control continues to chip away at gun owner rights. My heart goes out to gun owners in Delaware. For a state, whose motto is Liberty and Independence to be subjected to such restrictive gun control is a crying shame.”
Current President Joe Biden cut his political teeth in Delaware — a state that is thoroughly anti-gun. According to Guns & Ammo magazine’s best states for gun owner rankings, Delaware is ranked in an abysmal 42nd place. Like any state under firm Democratic control, Delaware generally sees anti-gun legislation passed at will. That’s how the cookie crumbles in blue jurisdictions that are dominated by Democrats.
Delaware and many other blue state cases should serve as a stark reminder as to what happens when a state is absorbed by the Left. Hopefully, gun owners have gotten with the program and are doing everything possible to prevent their respective states from turning into anti-gun bastions.
José Niño is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. Contact him via Facebook, Twitter, or email him at [email protected]. Get his e-book, The 10 Myths of Gun Control, here.