Editor’s note: The headline for this story has been updated.
The Delaware House on Thursday passed the first bill of lawmakers’ sweeping gun reform package, which would ban the sale of assault weapons.
Though lawmakers have struggled to pass similar legislation in recent years, a renewed effort came following the onslaught of recent mass shootings in America, most notably in Uvalde, Texas, in which a gunman shot and killed 19 elementary schoolchildren and two teachers.
Democratic lawmakers announced last week a number of bills they plan to pass before the session ends this month. This includes limiting high-capacity magazines, increasing the purchasing age for most firearms, holding gun manufacturers and dealers liable for negligible actions that lead to gun violence and banning the use of devices that convert handguns into fully automatic weapons.
Though this package has the support of the Democratic lawmakers, as well as Gov. John Carney, hundreds of residents against these bills descended on Legislative Hall on Wednesday. Many attended the committee hearings for the bills related to the assault weapons ban and increase in purchasing age.
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The committee hearing, held in the House chamber, was packed with those for and against these policies watching above the gallery. Republicans are vehemently against these bills, arguing the focus instead needs to be placed on increasing funding for school safety.
“Everybody here will go home, the bill will go on the agenda tomorrow, and it will pass,” said House Minority leader Daniel Short. “Because the votes are there, I’m a realist.
“After that, the lawsuit will come.”
The assault weapons ban bill would make it illegal to make, sell, purchase or possess assault-style weapons, including AK-47s and AR-15s. These weapons specifically have been used in mass shootings.
The bill also grandfathers currently owned weapons and protects owners from being misidentified as those breaking the law. A person who owns an assault weapon before the passage of this bill could also legally transfer it to an immediate family member.
It also grants certain exceptions for law enforcement and military members.
The state’s Department of Safety and Homeland Security would be required, under this bill, to develop a certificate showing lawful possession of an assault weapon, for those who qualify.
Four Democrats – Reps. Andria Bennett, Bill Bush, William Carson and Sean Matthews – voted against the bill, as did all of the Republican lawmakers. It now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to pass.
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Just after the passage of the bill, Rep. John Kowalko made a brief comment, imploring his colleagues to pass SB 3, a bill that has stalled in the House for more than a year. The legislation would require residents interested in buying a handgun to first acquire a permit and take safety courses.
House leadership has been criticized by other Delaware Democrats for not quickly passing this bill. It is not part of the gun reform package, and it’s unclear if it will even be considered in the House in its final weeks of the session.
House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf urged the lawmaker to keep his comments limited to the bill that was just passed, following a colleague calling the remarks out of order.
“Move forward on SB 3,” Kowalko said. “If this body has a conscience, they’d do it.”
Contact Meredith Newman at (302) 256-2466 or at mnewman@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @MereNewman.
