State of Delaware Archives: on Gun Control
Chris Coons:
Respect 2nd Amendment with common sense limitations
Q: Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns? A: Yes.
Q: Do you believe that the Second Amendment guarantees the right of individual citizens to own guns?
A: Yes. Chris respects that the 2nd
Amendment guarantees a person's right to keep and bear arms, subject to a few common sense limitations. Government should focus on strictly enforcing existing laws to protect public safety, rather than expanding gun regulations.
Source: Delaware Congressional Election 2010 Political Courage Test
Sep 25, 2010
Chuck Boyce:
Double headline - Already Done
Candidates Chuck Boyce and Gene Truono addressed 10 questions on a range of subjects. On the issue of gun control, Boyce said, "I will always be a strong supporter of the Second Amendment." He added that "there would need to be some colossal threat to
our country" before he would consider "any type of action that reduced our rights under the constitution."He added that "we need to make sure that we are helping those that need help" and that recent mass shootings were cases of others knowing the
shooter was a threat "and said something, and the system failed."
"We have a broken system in background checks," Boyce said, adding that he believes there should be "consequences" for those in various agencies who drop the ball regarding information
on potential dangers.
Truono said he also supports the Second Amendment, "and I don't think taking away people's guns will solve this problem. The real issue here, as we've seen, is that this is a mental health issue."
Source: Coastal Point on 2018 Delaware Senate debate
Mar 2, 2018
Colin Bonini:
Opposed mandating safe storage of loaded firearms
Legislative Summary:HB63: This Act revises the crime of "unlawfully permitting a child access to a firearm," an existing class A misdemeanor under Delaware law. The offense is renamed "unsafe storage of a firearm" to place emphasis on
firearm safety and proper storage. Under the revised statute, a crime is committed when a person intentionally or recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm where a minor or other person prohibited by law can access the firearm.
National Rifle Association NRA-ILA case to vote NO: This mandatory storage law would do nothing more than render firearms useless in self-defense situations. Criminals love this bill as it tips the scales in their favor in
self-defense situations.
Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 13-8-0 on Apr/17/19; State Sen. Colin Bonini voted NO; Passed House 23-18-0 on Jun/4/19; Signed by Governor John Carney on Jun/6/19
Source: NRA-ILA on Delaware legislative voting records HB63
Apr 17, 2019
Gene Truono:
Double headline - Already Done
On the issue of gun control, Boyce said, "I will always be a strong supporter of the Second Amendment." He added that "there would need to be some colossal threat to our country" before he would consider "any type of action that reduced our rights
under the constitution."Truono said he also supports the Second Amendment, "and I don't think taking away people's guns will solve this problem. The real issue here, as we've seen, is that this is a mental health issue, which is an issue that
this country has failed to address over and over and over again."
Truono said he supports instantaneous background checks "like we do credit reports for instant credit. He also said limiting the use of accessories that increase
the fire power of a weapon "is something we should have a discussion about." He added that he feels that "every school, every church should do a risk assessment" regarding its vulnerability to gun violence.
Source: Coastal Point on 2018 Delaware Senate debate
Mar 2, 2018
Gene Truono:
He's pro 2nd Amendment but with common sense conditions
Gene fully supports the 2nd Amendment. However, he also believes that we need to address the mental health issues that lead to gun violence. He supports the improvement of background checks, gun safety, and a limitation on any device that can
be used to enhance a weapon that enables it to fire automatically. Gene believes that all institutions should perform risk assessments and take immediate action for the safety of our citizens and schoolchildren without the need for legislation.
Source: 2018 Delaware Senate campaign website VoteTruono.com
Apr 4, 2018
Jack Markell:
More troopers & more enforcement against gun crimes
Parents should not fear their children will be hit by stray bullets. Borrowing an idea from the Delaware State Troopers Association, we will make those who violate our laws fund efforts to reduce the incidence of gun violence. To this end, [my
administration will] focus new resources, including additional state troopers, on reducing gun crimes, beginning in the City of Wilmington.
Source: 2011 Delaware State of the State Address
Jan 20, 2011
James DeMartino:
Stop eroding our constitutional rights with restrictions
Our constitutional rights are being eroded by legislative restrictions and it must stop. We must have a legislator to protect and preserve our constitutional rights of free speech, freedom of religion and the right to keep and bear arms.
I am that person. We need a legislator that believes in we the people and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all, and I do.
Source: Wilmington News Journal on 2020 Delaware Senate race
Aug 20, 2018
John Carney:
Enforce existing gun laws; do more on mental health
Congressman John Carney came to the Delaware Council for Global and Muslim Affairs to discuss his bid for governor of Delaware. On gun control, Carney stated that he supported common sense regulations, and mainly believed that we should focus on actually
enforcing the laws we already have on the books, since that could potentially stop much of the violence associated with guns.Carney also discussed the importance of mental health.
He shared a story where he asked a school principal if he had one more dollar, where would it go? The principal responded by saying it would go to a mental health therapist.
Current politics, according to Carney, is dominated by partisanship.
He said that he tries his best to not only represent his constituency, but also to be a moderate, staying away from extremes. But being a moderate means taking shots from both sides, which makes that choice especially hard.
Source: Wilmington News Journal on 2016 Delaware Governor's race
Mar 10, 2016
John Carney:
Keep guns out of the hands of those who would harm
We passed the Beau Biden Gun Violence Prevention Act and another, similar red flag law. The idea behind both pieces of legislation was really simple. We should keep firearms out of the hands of those intent on harming themselves or others.
Family members and mental health providers can now raise a concern, and a judge decides whether to intervene. These laws have already been used 35 times to date. And they have helped save lives.
Source: 2020 Delaware State of the State address
Jan 23, 2020
John Carney:
Signed law mandating safe storage of loaded firearms
Legislative Summary:HB63: This Act revises the crime of "unlawfully permitting a child access to a firearm," an existing class A misdemeanor under Delaware law. The offense is renamed "unsafe storage of a firearm" to place emphasis on
firearm safety and proper storage. Under the revised statute, a crime is committed when a person intentionally or recklessly stores or leaves a loaded firearm where a minor or other person prohibited by law can access the firearm.
National Rifle Association NRA-ILA case to vote NO: This mandatory storage law would do nothing more than render firearms useless in self-defense situations. Criminals love this bill as it tips the scales in their favor in
self-defense situations.
Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 13-8-0 on Apr/17/19; Passed House 23-18-0 on Jun/4/19; Signed by Governor John Carney on Jun/6/19
Source: NRA-ILA on Delaware legislative voting records HB63
Jun 6, 2019
Julianne Murray:
Overt gun control is not necessary; violates 2nd amendment
Murray supports a bill of rights for businesses, including a one-year delay on new tax laws and regulations going into effect,
time to fix any broken regulations/laws, and required cost estimates to a business for a new regulation's implementation.
Source: 2020 DE gubernatorial campaign website MurrayForDelaware.com
Oct 9, 2020
Julianne Murray:
There are no such things as assault weapons
The candidates differed on the subject of assault weapons. Carney supported a ban but acknowledged that Congress didn't have the votes to make it happen.
Murray said "there are no such things as assault weapons."
Source: Delaware News Journal on 2020 Delaware Gubernatorial race
Oct 13, 2020
Lauren Witzke:
Gun rights shall not be infringed
Q: Do you generally support gun-control legislation?
A: No. "...shall not be infringed."
Source: 2020 Delaware Senate PVS Political Courage Test
Oct 10, 2020
Lisa Blunt Rochester:
Stand up to the NRA to close gun loopholes
Preventing Gun Violence: "As a mother of two, I worry about gun violence more than I ever should. I'm running to stand up to the radicals who are putting NRA campaign contributions above the lives of our children." - Lisa Blunt Rochester
We need to figure out long-term solutions to this problem by putting much tougher restrictions on who can own a gun and what those guns can do. We need to put much more effort and resources behind fixing our mental health system.
In Congress, Lisa will stand up to the NRA by:
- Working to close loopholes that allow criminals easy access to guns.
- Fighting for expanded background checks and instituting a cooling off period for anyone who wants to buy a gun.
-
Pushing for more resources to fix our mental health system.
- Championing programs aimed at strengthening police/community relations.
Source: 2016 Delaware House campaign website LisaBluntRochester.com
Nov 8, 2016
Rob Arlett:
Pro-2nd Amendment; Americans have right to defend themselves
As a person who has raised his right hand twice to Defend our Constitution,
Rob will always fight up for American's right to defend themselves and their families.
Source: 2018 Delaware Senate Campaign website RobArlett.com
Sep 1, 2018
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023