Statement from DelDems Chairman Erik Raser-Schramm on gun safety legislation

Today the General Assembly built on previous efforts to reduce gun violence in Delaware, with the Senate unanimously passing legislation creating Lethal Violence Protection Orders that will keep guns out of the hands of people deemed to pose a public danger by the courts. We are heartened that lawmakers are sending this important “red flag” bill to Governor Carney’s desk and we thank the Governor and bill author Rep. David Bentz for being leading voices on gun safety. 

But we are also deeply disappointed that legislation that would have banned the future sale of military-style assault weapons did not even get a debate on the Senate floor. Despite the leadership shown by Senator McBride and Senator Townsend in attempting to bring the bill to a vote, Republicans voted as a bloc to prevent a debate, with two Democrats joining them. At best, those 10 “no” votes were simply out-of-step with the 73 percent of Delawareans who support such a ban. At worst, they represent a disappointing effort to avert a true debate on the bill, depriving Delawareans of the chance to hear – on the record – exactly where their Senators stand on such a formative issue.