Colin Bonini on Gun Control

Don't ban "ghost guns" (guns without serial numbers)

WDEL summary Oct 20, 2021: House Bill 125, addresses an increasing need to codify the illegality of untraceable firearms, especially those that are created through the use of 3D printers.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 23-18-0 on May/20/21; passed Senate 13-8-0 on Jun/15/21; State Sen. Colin Bonini voted NO; Signed by Governor John Carney on Oct/20/21.

Opposed mandating safe storage of loaded firearms

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

Don't require owners of lost/stolen handguns to report it

Giffords Law Center opinion to vote YES:Laws that require firearm owners to notify law enforcement about the loss or theft of a firearm help deter gun trafficking and straw purchasing. They can also help law enforcement disarm individuals who become ineligible to possess firearms.

NRA-ILA opinion to vote NO:SB 16 does nothing to solve an existing crime problem but is an ideological attack on gun ownership. It imposes policies to criminalize victims of crime and subjects anyone who does not follow these arbitrary laws to heavy fines or felony charges that would take away their right to possess a firearm legally.

Legislative Outcome:Passed Senate 11-10-0 on May/2/13; State Sen. Colin Bonini voted NO; passed House 22-19-0 on May/14/13; signed by Governor Jack Markell on Jun/12/13.

Don't add state mental health records to national database

Analysis by WHYY, 4/13/11: [HB48] would provide mental health records to a national database in an effort to prevent those with severe mental illnesses from purchasing guns. A severely mentally ill's person's health records are not available to firearms retailers outside [Delaware now].

ACLU opposition 5/30/03: The ACLU believes that this easy, warrantless access to our medical information violates the Fourth Amendment. However, because HIPAA regulations have only recently gone into effect, their constitutionality remains largely untested.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 36-0-5 on Jun/2/11; passed Senate 11-8-2 on May/31/11; State Sen. Colin Bonini voted NO; signed by Gov. Markell on Jul/13/11

Rated 93% by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record.

While widely recognized today as a major political force and as America`s foremost defender of Second Amendment rights, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has, since its inception, been the premier firearms education organization in the world. But our successes would not be possible without the tireless efforts and countless hours of service our nearly three million members have given to champion Second Amendment rights and support NRA programs.

The following ratings are based on lifetime voting records on gun issues and the results of a questionaire sent to all Congressional candidates; the NRA assigned a letter grade (with A+ being the highest and F being the lowest).

What the Grades Mean:
• A+: A legislator with not only an excellent voting record on all critical NRA issues, but who has also made a vigorous effort to promote and defend the Second Amendment.
• A: Solidly pro-gun candidate including voting record.
• AQ: A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record.
• B: A generally pro-gun candidate; may have opposed some pro-gun reform in the past.
• C: A candidate with a mixed record or positions on gun related issues, who may oppose some pro-gun positions.
• D: An anti-gun candidate who usually supports restrictive gun control legislation. Regardless of public statements, can usually be counted on to vote wrong on key issues.
• F: True enemy of gun owners` rights. A consistent anti-gun candidate.
• ?: Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners` rights.