This could affect some of the MikeB readers.......
from Governors Journal, a site specializing in news about governors, and related topics (includes a great source for polling relating to governors). Ya gotta love the internet for specialization!
Good luck Governor Markell! Gun Control Inching in DE
Only on GoJo – Delaware Governor Jack Markell(D) is hopeful a package of “common sense” gun control measures he proposed will make it through the state legislature this year.
All four bills, outlined in Markell’s State of the State address, are at various stages in the legislative process. Remarkably, none has received final legislative approval. Some are more controversial than others and Markell says he is “absolutely not surprised” that pro-gun advocates, led by the National Rifle Association, are giving lawmakers pause. He accepts it as part of the process.
The Markell gun control package is the most comprehensive set of proposals put forward by any governor on the issue this year. He unveiled his plans in the weeks following the mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona that nearly claimed the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords(D), but he says it had been in the works long before that incident. The evidence and the governor’s anti-crime record backs that up.
“I believe these are very common sense bills that can improve public safety,” Markell said during an exclusive interview with Governors Journal on Wednesday.
There are four bills in all:
- Closing the loophole that allows the purchase of guns at gun shows without a criminal background check.
- Prohibit the possession of a firearm by anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Improve reporting requirements to prevent people with mental illness from obtaining a gun.
- Give law enforcement responsible methods to dispose of seized firearms.
Markell says the NRA is working hard to defeat the gun show loophole bill arguing that it is un-necessary in Delaware, but the governor says the NRA is wrong. Under Delaware law, only licensed gun dealers are required to do background checks meaning anyone can walk into a gun show and walk out with a lethal weapon.
The proposed legislation is supported by the state’s attorney general, other top law enforcement officials and organizations from throughout the state.
Only on GoJo – Delaware Governor Jack Markell(D) is hopeful a package of “common sense” gun control measures he proposed will make it through the state legislature this year.All four bills, outlined in Markell’s State of the State address, are at various stages in the legislative process. Remarkably, none has received final legislative approval. Some are more controversial than others and Markell says he is “absolutely not surprised” that pro-gun advocates, led by the National Rifle Association, are giving lawmakers pause. He accepts it as part of the process.
The Markell gun control package is the most comprehensive set of proposals put forward by any governor on the issue this year. He unveiled his plans in the weeks following the mass shooting in Tucson, Arizona that nearly claimed the life of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords(D), but he says it had been in the works long before that incident. The evidence and the governor’s anti-crime record backs that up.
“I believe these are very common sense bills that can improve public safety,” Markell said during an exclusive interview with Governors Journal on Wednesday.
There are four bills in all:
- Closing the loophole that allows the purchase of guns at gun shows without a criminal background check.
- Prohibit the possession of a firearm by anyone under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Improve reporting requirements to prevent people with mental illness from obtaining a gun.
- Give law enforcement responsible methods to dispose of seized firearms.
The proposed legislation is supported by the state’s attorney general, other top law enforcement officials and organizations from throughout the state.
Would this do anything to stop someone from going down the street to their neighbor's house and buying a gun in a private sale situation without a background check?
ReplyDeleteCurrently in DE you are allowed to be drunk/high and in possession of a weapon? By in possession do they mean on your person or simply in your house?
What is meant by "responsible methods of disposal"? What do the police do with seized guns now? Something irresponsible?
I don't know about private sales, but at least in theory I'm not against background checks being required for those too.
ReplyDeleteAs for law enforcement disposing of weapons, I know we have reported here about at least one police department that sold them back to a gun manufacturer, and then those same guns turned up involved in crimes, so somewhere along the line, control of those weapons lapsed, and clearly criminals gained too easy access to them.
My impression from reading this is that the intent is to standardize how this is done, and perhaps provide better tracking of where those weapons go after police custody.