A Vote is Imminent and Your Action is Needed NOW!
House Bill 35, the latest of Governor Jack Markell’s gun control proposals will be heard TOMORROW by the House Judiciary Committee. Originally scheduled to be heard last week, the overwhelming opposition to HB 35 at that time prompted another hearing tomorrow at 11:30 am in Legislative Hall. There will be a sign-up sheet for those who wish to testify and speaking time will be limited to two minutes per person. Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee IMMEDIATELY and attend this hearing to speak against HB 35. If you are unable to attend and wish to submit testimony before this committee hearing, you may do so by sending it to Chairman Rebecca Walker at:
E-mail: Rebecca.Walker@state.de.us
Fax: (302) 739-2313
Thank you to all who showed up in Dover last Wednesday in opposition to HB 35! Your presence made the difference! We need you to return there tomorrow, March 20 at 11:30 am.
HB 35 would criminalize virtually all private transfers of firearms by requiring that a criminal history background check be performed in connection with the sale or transfer of all firearms. Background checks (subject to fees) would be performed by licensed firearms dealers, who would be required to maintain records of such background checks in accordance with state and federal law. Anyone violating this provision would be guilty of a class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a class G felony for any subsequent offense.
While there might be limited exceptions -- make no mistake -- this measure is the first step toward the criminalization of all private firearm transfers. This system can only be enforced with gun registration*. And, as we know from experiences in California, Australia and Great Britain, gun registration enables gun confiscation—only from honest citizens—since criminals don’t register their guns or submit to criminal investigations for firearms acquisition or transfers.
Your presence is needed in Dover at this hearing to speak against this onerous and ineffective proposal, so please attend tomorrow! It is critical that you contact House Judiciary Committee members IMMEDIATELY and urge them to OPPOSE HB 35. Contact information is provided below.
Also please contact your state Representative and urge him or her to oppose and vote against House Bill 35. Contact information for your state Representative can be found here.
*According to an internal U.S. Department of Justice memorandum, "universal" background checks will not work without requiring gun registration. Read the memo and get the facts here.
House Judiciary Committee:
Representative Rebecca Walker (D-9) (Chairman)
(302) 744-4351
Representative Melanie George Smith (D-5) (Vice-Chairman)
(302) 744-4126
Representative Gerald L. Brady (D-4)
(302) 744-4351
Representative James Johnson (D-16)
(302) 744-4351
Representative John L. Mitchell Jr. (D-13)
(302) 744-4351
Representative W. Charles Paradee (D-29)
(302) 744-4033
Representative Charles Potter Jr. (D-1)
(302) 744-4351
Representative Darryl M. Scott (D-31)
(302) 744-4351
Representative Stephen T. Smyk (R-20)
(302) 744-4321
Representative Jeffrey N. Spiegelman (R-11)
(302) 744-4171
Representative David L. Wilson (R-35)
(302) 744-4150
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