Support grows for Delaware gun background check bill

Delaware officials say there’s growing support for one piece of gun legislation recently introduced in Gov. Jack Markell’s package of gun bills designed to keep firearms out of the hands of dangerous people.

On Wednesday, Markell and high ranking democrats who are all trying to pass broad background checks were joined by former Republican Congressman Mike Castle in Wilmington.  In 2009, Castle sponsored a similar bill called the “Bipartisan Gun Show Loophole Closing Act.”

“I am proud to endorse this initiative to expand background checks for firearm purchases,” said the former Congressman who also served as governor in Delaware.

Between 1994 and 2012, more than 2-million people failed background checks. In Delaware, 35-hundred people were denied in the last six years.

“We have a problem in this state; we have a problem in this country,” said Gov. Markell.

Delaware Governor Jack Markell made the strong remarks as he tries to drive the point home that now is the time for universal background gun checks.

“There’s no reason to require a background check when a (licensed) dealer sells a gun but not when everybody else, it creates a loophole too easily exploited by criminals and it puts our citizens at risk,”added Markell.

The goal is to get the bill introduced as soon as the legislature returns next week and before June 30th. Castle’s appearance was intended to demonstrate why the background check bill should be a bi-partisan effort.  Castle says everyone will need to work together.  

“I also believe this issue is bi-partisan and I’m aware that my own party, the Republican Party doesn’t always view it that way, there are many members in the Republican Party who do not,” said Castle.

Bottom line, statistics show growing support to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people says Lt. Gov. Matt Denn,D-Del., who points to the NRA as an example.

“That’s why between 74 percent and 85 percent of NRA households support background checks like the one in this bill, this is simply something that we all should be able to agree on,” said Denn.

According to Sec. Lewis Schiliro of the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security the United States has had one mass shooting per month in 25 states since January of 2009.

“The evidence is clear that background checks keeps guns away from people not allowed to possess them under the law—especially criminals,” said Attorney General Biden, who helped to implement the Brady background check law when he worked at the U.S. Department of Justice in the late 1990s.

There are a few exceptions, regarding the proposed broad background checks. They won’t be required if the transaction is between family members, trained and qualified law enforcement as well as the sale or transfer of antique guns or return of a firearm by a pawnbroker to the person from whom it was received.

“Everyone who says we should do a better job of enforcing existing laws should be for this bill, because that’s exactly what it does: allow us to ensure that the people who we have legally prohibited from owning guns don’t in fact get them,” said the Governor.

 

 

 

The United States has had one mass shooting per month in 25 states since January of 2009 according to the Delaware Department of Homeland and Security.

 

That’s why Delaware officials who released more details about its universal background bill say when it comes to keeping families safe; it’s a bi-partisan effort. Nichelle Polston has more from the Delaware desk. 

 

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“We have a problem in this state; we have a problem in this country.”

 

Those are strong words from Delaware Governor Jack Markell who says  the time is now for Universal Background checks.

 

“There’s no reason to require a background check when a dealer sells a gun but not when everybody else, it creates a loophole too easily exploited by criminals and it puts our citizens at risk.”

 

The goal is to get the bill introduced as soon as the legislature returns next week and before June 30th.  To make this possible, former Republican Congressman Mike Castle says everyone will need to work together.

 

“I also believe this issue is bi-partisan and I’m aware that my own party, the Republican Party doesn’t always view it that way, there are many members in the Republican Party who do not”

 

Bottom line statistics show growing support to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people says Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn who points to the NRA as an example.

 

“That’s why between 74 percent and 85 percent of NRA households support background checks like the one in this bill this is very simply is something that we all should be able to agree on.”

 

From the Delaware desk, I’m Nichelle Polston for WHYY News.

 

 

Tag: There are a few exceptions, regarding the proposed broad background checks. They won’t be required if the transaction is between family members, trained and qualified law enforcement as well as the sale or transfer of  antique guns or  return of a firearm by a pawnbroker to the person from whom it was received.