LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Here is your Legislative update:
HB 13 - Legislation sponsored by Yearick and 5 other Republicans (no Democrat support) that would require heavier sentences for those who commit felonies while in possession of a deadly weapon which would counteract the weak enforcement of laws due to the AG's criminal justice reform.
SB 266 - Gun Owners Bill of Rights. Moderate partisan bill with Ennis being the only Dem to sign onto this. Primary Sponsor is Colin Bonini with Hocker, Lawson, Pettyjohn, and Collins as co-sponsors.
HB 423 would blow the Permit to Purchase bill (SB 3) out of the water, making it null and void. This is a slight partisan bill sponsored by Mitchell with support from Lawson, Hocker, Sokola, Mitchell, Ennis, Hansen, Pettyjohn, Walsh, Wilson... to name a few. HB 423 would bring firearms purchasing background checks to the state level and would be conducted through the SBI.
Rep. Eric Morrison has sponsored HB 414 in efforts to criminalize and deter abusers from denying access to money, banking, etc. This has 11 Dems supporting and only 1 Republican, Rep Michael Smith.
HB 428 closes some loopholes so that those contributing to or participating in the sending/recieving/selling/etc of child pornography cannot skirt prosecution simply because the child is partially clothed. This bill would add the term “partial nudity” to the definition of “prohibited sexual act.” This bill is sponsored by Rep Valerie Longhurst and co-sponsored by Poore, Ennis, Briggs-King, Hansen, Hocker, Wilson, and a few others.
HB 359 Sponsored by Rep Williams this act adds victims of human trafficking to the Address Confidentiality Act by providing a substitute address by the DOJ.
HB 351 BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR POLITICAL CANDIDATES- This would have prevented at least one of our Senators from being elected into office. Once background checks are complete they are handed over to the Dept of Elections for a determination to be made and are kept private. Sponsor: Morrison. Co- sponosred by Gay, Hansen, Wilson, Baumbach, Briggs-King, Kowalko, Ramone, Yearick, Michael Smith.
HB 347 This bill doubles the cost AKA fine of patronizing a prostitute -a class G felony- from $1000 to $2000, compounding the already imposed dangers to sex workers when forced into the shadows of prohibition. Sponsored by Rep Williams and co-sponsored by Hocker, Hansen, Lawson, Richardson, Dukes, Longhurst, Michael Smith.
HB 306 Sponsored by Rep Spiegleman requiring sex offenders be indentified as such on the state issued ID cards by using “SO” instead of the currently required “Y”. This legislation is co-sponsored by several other Rebublicans and 1 Democrat, K. Williams.
House Substitute 1 for HB 264 This bill allows a victim of sexual violence to apply for an order of protection whether or not the assailant was charged or reported for committing the act so long as the victim can prove their assailant will cause them harm in the future. Sponsored by Griffith and co-sponsored by multiple other Democrats. No republican support.
HB 275 increases the 2nd offense penalites for failing to report a lost or stolen firearm. Sponsored by Matthews and supported by multiple Democrats, 1 Republican.
HB 253 The redefining of what a “firearm” is under Delaware code to remove BB guns, slingshots, and crossbows from that definition. Sponsor Speigleman. Co-sponsors are Carson, Ennis, Pettyjohn, Hocker, Briggs-King, Yearick, Short, Lawson.
HB 276 Makes it legal on a state level for a medical Marijuana card holder to purchase or possess firearms. This probably couldn’t be possible without HB 423 which would bring firearms purchasing background checks to the state level rather than through the current federal system (NICS). Sponsored by Rep Andria Bennett and holding bi-partisan support. Please note, this bill does not have heavy support from either side of the aisle causing us to wonder if HB 423 will have the support to pass.
You can read the full text of each of these bills by going to https://legis.delaware.gov/AllLegislation
** Please note that these are not thorough explanations of the bill listed here. Please, do your research so that you can make an informed decision based on values you hold individually.
