Delaware governor signs more bills to combat gun violence in the First State

WILMINGTON — The Carney administration took another step toward combating gun violence in the First State with the enactment of several bills that aim to ensure safer communities.

Gov. John Carney was joined by members of the General Assembly and gun control advocates on Aug. 15 to sign a package of bills that aid the state’s ongoing efforts in this area: House Bill 311, House Substitute 1 for House Bill 342, House Substitute 1 for House Bill 270, and House Bill 155.

“We’ve made a lot of progress to keep our communities safer since the start of this administration,” Gov. Carney said in a statement following the signing. “The pieces of legislation we signed (Aug. 15) and the other steps we’ve taken would not have been possible without the dedication of advocates who demanded action across our state, and our legislative partners in the General Assembly.”

Of the recently enacted measures, House Bill 311 expands the state’s School Safe Zone Act to college campuses; prior to the legislation’s enactment, the law covered kindergarten, elementary, secondary and vocational-technical schools. It was sponsored by Rep. Cyndie Romer, D-Newark.

Sponsored by Rep. Eric Morrison, D-Glasgow, the substituted version of House Bill 342 creates a voluntary “do-not-sell” registry for firearms, in which applicants can enroll to be prohibited from obtaining a firearm.

Over a year after over 500,000 rounds of ammunition was stolen at the Christiana Mall Cabela’s, lawmakers worked to implement standards for how ammunition was secured at Delaware gun stores, which culminated with the substituted version of House Bill 270.

Sponsored by Rep. Kim Williams, D-Newport, the legislation requires gun dealers to display ammunition prevents customer access without vendor assistance. It creates a civil penalty for violations to the tune of $500 on gun licensee’s first offense, $1,000 on a second offense and $5,000 for any subsequent violations.

The final bill signed by the term-limited governor at Delaware State University’s Riverfront campus was House Bill 155, which would require individuals to safely secure a firearm should they leave it in their vehicle, such as in a lock box, container, firearms rack or in the trunk.

The legislation, which was led by Rep. Krista Griffith, D-Fairfax, would carry a class A misdemeanor if a person knowingly leaves a firearm unattended in a vehicle that is not safely secured.

According to the Delaware State Police Bureau of identification, 671 firearms have been reported stolen from vehicles in Delaware over the last five years; many which were not safely secured.

“Once again, Gov. Carney has signed legislation that helps build the safer Delaware that we all deserve. With this new legislation, Delaware is sending a message that we put the safety of our neighbors ahead of the profits of the gun industry,” said Traci Manza Murphy, executive director of the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence.

Since Gov. Carney took office in Jan. 2017, he has collaborated with the General Assembly to enact 23 laws that aim to curb gun violence in the First State.

This includes banning assault weapons, limiting high-capacity magazines, raising the age to purchase a firearm to 21, requiring a permit to purchase a firearm and strengthening background checks.