Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf has been proactively getting on the right (liberal) side of the NRA issue in recent days as has several Democrats in the General Assembly, who have been donating their NRA donations to charity after received deserved criticism for taking those blood money donations in the first place. Schwartzkopf announced this past weekend that he had only received a $250 donation from the NRA in 2015, and donated that and another $250.00 to the Stoneman Douglas students’ March for Our Lives Rally. He then said this:
The NRA has consistently given me an “F” rating — something I’m proud of. While I believe in a responsible person’s right to own a firearm for self-defense and hunting, I believe we have an obligation to pass reasonable laws protecting the public and preventing these tragedies from occurring.
I have sponsored most and voted for every gun control bill we have considered in #Delaware — strengthening background checks, protecting domestic violence victims, closing loopholes — and I’ll continue to do that. That one donation did not influence me, but I do not want there to be any doubt where I stand on this issue.
I highlight that because he seems to be putting his money where his mouth is. It is unusual for the Speaker of the House to be a lead sponsor on a piece of legislation aside from the Budget or Bond or Grant-in-Aid bills. But today the Speaker introduced HB330, a bill to raise the legal age where it is permissible for a person to buy, sell, give or transfer a firearm or ammunition from 18 years old to 21.
HB330 – Removing Guns from Dangerous Mentally Ill Persons.
SPONSORS: Schwartzkopf, McBridge, McDowell, Longhurst, Potter, Hansen, Henry, Marshall, Sokola, Townsend, Baumbach, Bentz, Bolden, Brady, Heffernan, Jaques, J.Johnson, Kowalko, Lynn, Mitchell, Mulrooney, Paradee, B.Short, Viola
YES VOTES:
NO VOTES:
ABSENT:
NOT VOTING:
HISTORY: House Administration 3/1/18
STATUS: Waiting on consideration in committee
This will totally stop the next Las Vegas type tragedy. Honestly, all it will do is ramp up gun sales until it ultimately dies.
I agree with the president. Confiscate all the guns now and worry about legality later.
This is a disingenuous move to appease those of us who want to see real gun control.
One thing they could do is enact legislation that would make owners and dealers more responsible for lax security of their guns
Gun theft is a major source of illegal guns on the street.
Ban the sale and manufacture of all semi-automatic rifles with detachable magazines. Repeat it often and always. Look it up if you need to.
Pete Schwartzkopf may drive us liberals nuts on a whole host of other issues, but he seems genuine on this and we should all commend him for it. (of course he better support the other gun control bills that have been introduced)