Delaware House passes three gun bills

The Delaware House passed three gun safety bills June 28, approving measures that will raise the age to purchase most firearms, hold gunmakers and gun dealers responsible for reckless actions, and prohibit the possession or sale of devices that can convert semi-automatic weapons into automatic firearms.

The bills are part of a six-bill package the governor and House and Senate Democratic leaders announced earlier this month in response to recent mass shootings. Both chambers already have passed legislation that would ban assault-style weapons, prohibit the sale of large-capacity gun magazines and strengthen background checks.

Sponsored by Rep. Dave Bentz, D-Bear, and Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend, D-Newark, Senate Bill 302 would amend the existing liability shield that protects gunmakers and gun dealers from civil action in the First State, even when their conduct knowingly or recklessly endangers the safety and health of Delawareans.

Also known as the Keshall “Keke” Anderson Safe Firearm Sales Act, SB 302 would allow someone harmed by the gun industry’s recklessness or negligence to sue for damages and other relief, while permitting the Delaware Department of Justice to seek an injunction prohibiting that gun industry member from continuing to engage in those actions.

“This is not an attempt to put good, law-abiding gunmakers and dealers out of business. If your job is to make or sell deadly weapons and you act recklessly, there should be repercussions,” said Bentz. 

Delaware code currently provides the firearm industry with one of the strongest state liability shields in the nation. A Delaware Superior Court judge recently cited state law as the sole reason for dismissing a lawsuit filed against a Christiana firearms dealer by the family of a 19-year-old innocent bystander who was gunned down in a 2016 drive-by shooting.

According to the lawsuit, an employee of Cabela’s sold the .40-caliber pistol used in the shooting to a woman who was making a straw purchase on behalf of her boyfriend, a convicted felon who orchestrated the sale over the phone from outside the store.

The gun was later sold on the criminal market to two underage teenagers who used the illegally purchased weapon to indiscriminately fire on bystanders in Wilmington, killing Anderson, the mother of a 6-month-old boy.

“Losing a child to gun violence causes pain that lasts a lifetime,” said Townsend. “For those families grieving the death of a loved one, it is important that we give them the legal recourse to seek justice. The Keshall ‘KeKe’ Anderson Safe Firearm Sales Act will not just allow for victims to seek relief from the courts, but it also will hold gun manufacturers and dealers accountable if they engage in reckless business practices.”

Sponsored by Rep. Ed Osienski, D-Newark, and Senate President Pro Tempore Dave Sokola, D-Newark, Senate Bill 8 would outlaw the possession, sale and use of auto sears, Glock switches and other devices that can convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic machine guns.

During the last decade, large quantities of foreign-made conversion devices have been sold online to customers in the United States. The small devices also can be 3D printed.

“Delaware took an important step in 2018 to ban bump stocks and trigger cranks. Unfortunately, firearm accessories and devices are always evolving, so we have to remain vigilant,” said Osienski. “Automatic weapons already are illegal, and this is a common-sense initiative to prohibit additional devices that can convert semi-automatic weapons into automatic ones.”

A gunman armed with a semi-automatic pistol modified with a machine gun conversion device shot three Houston police officers in January, while another gunman armed with a weapon modified by a similar device killed six people and wounded 12 others in Sacramento in April.

In 2021, lawmakers also successfully outlawed homemade ghost guns, unfinished receivers and 3D-printed firearms that are not marked by serial numbers and can circumvent background check laws.

“After just the latest example of children being shot to death in their classroom, leadership in the Delaware General Assembly vowed to pass a historic package of gun safety legislation that would reduce the chance of such horrific violence occurring here,” Sokola said. “Today, we fulfilled that promise by sending the last of those gun safety bills to Gov. John Carney for his signature. I am proud of my colleagues for standing strong against the lobbying effort of the NRA and doing what’s right for the safety of our families and our communities.”

House Bill 451, sponsored by House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, and Sen. Sokola, would increase to 21 the age of a person to whom another person can sell or transfer a long gun or ammunition for a firearm. Federal law requires a buyer to be at least 21 years old for all handgun purchases, but only 18 years old for long guns (including rifles and shotguns). State law mirrors those federal requirements.

“The research shows that 18 is a delicate age, and allowing teens to walk into a store and purchase a firearm is inviting problems,” said Schwartzkopf. “It’s long past time that Delaware lead on this issue and raise the age for buying a rifle to 21. I’m glad we’ve been able to reach the finish line on this bill, which will save lives, and send it to Gov. Carney.”

According to the Giffords Law Center, six other states require a person to be 21 to purchase a long gun. The others, including Delaware, follow the federal requirement of 18 years of age.

HB 451 would allow limited exceptions for shotguns and muzzle-loading rifles and related ammunition. Active military members, National Guard members, law enforcement officers, and those who have a concealed-carry license who are 18 years or older also would be exempted. The bill also would allow a person under 21 to possess or control a firearm for hunting as long as they comply with existing Delaware law for hunting.

A Senate amendment added earlier June 28 would establish a three-year exemption from the possession and use part of the prohibition to address concerns about those 18 to 20 who already own legally obtained firearms and makes clear that residents under 21 are permitted to safely transport those weapons for the purpose of participating in hunting, target shooting and other exempted activities.

SB 302 and HB 451 now head to Carney for his signature.

SB 8, which was amended in the House June 28, heads to the Senate for final consideration.