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(Lee’s note: This just in from the Delaware State Sportsman’s Association.) 

Delaware’s Senate Democrat Leadership has once again put its loyalty to George Soros, Michael Bloomberg and the entities they so openly fund such as Everytown and Moms Demand Action before their loyalty to and respect for their constituents, their oaths of office, and the Delaware and federal constitutions. Their actions in support of Senate Bill 2, stand as solid evidence that they are content to do the bidding of a very vocal minority of voters, many of whom are not even from their districts, rather than do the bidding of the vast majority of the people of the State of Delaware.

Yesterday stands as yet another day of infamy in the history of the Delaware Senate Democrat Caucus as yet another constitutionally oppressive “gun bill” was introduced – a Bill that will do more harm to more law-abiding citizens than it will do good in addressing the rising levels of violent crime that continue to grow and plague our fair state from end to end.

Yesterday, the sponsors of Senate Bill 2 released a press statement full of lies and half-truths, debunked theories and scientifically suspect studies, all in the hope of convincing their colleagues and constituents of the righteousness of their efforts.

Senate Bill 2, the so-called Permit to Purchase Bill, purports to be another “common-sense public safety bill”. However, nothing could be farther from the truth.

This bill, much like very similar legislation introduced last year, which passed the Senate only to fail in the House, is unconstitutional on its face on both the state and federal levels- and they know it.

Senate Bill 2 would require law abiding citizens wishing to exercise their constitutional right to purchase a handgun to defend themselves, their homes and families to obtain a state-mandated permit prior to doing so. In order to obtain the permit, the citizen would have to complete a training course (almost identical to that for a concealed carry permit), be fingerprinted, submit to a background check and be approved by the Secretary of Homeland Security – all of which takes both time and money. A right delayed is a right denied.

This proposed legislation serves as just another example of the sponsors not having the intestinal fortitude to take on the real causes of violent crime and to target the people that commit those crimes of violence. It is a fact that over 80% of all violent crime occurs in urban areas and is directly related to drugs and gangs, yet these senators refuse to address the root causes of such crimes.

It is a well-known fact that criminals do not obey the law – that is why we call them criminals. These are the people that these senators should be targeting, not the law- abiding citizens at whom Senate Bill 2 is truly aimed.

Senate Bill 2 requires law-abiding citizens to pay for the privilege of exercising their constitutional rights. Senate Bill 2 requires that citizens wishing to exercise their constitutional rights to be fingerprinted and go through two background checks before being able to purchase a handgun and then pay for a course most people do not need and which many have already completed.

Article I, Section 20 of the Delaware Constitution states that; “A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting, and recreational use.”

Senate Bill 2 would not only delay that right but allow an unelected state official to deny a citizen that right based on wholly subjective criteria. Based on the provisions of this proposed legislation it could take at least 60 days before a law-abiding citizen could exercise their constitutional right to keep and bear arms.

The legal and practical problems with Senate Bill 2 are numerous and far-reaching, but the bottom line is that Senate Bill 2 will do nothing to reduce the levels of violent crime is Delaware nor will Senate Bill 2 have any impact on the number of suicides here in the First State.

These Senators know, but are unwilling to admit, that the only truly effective method for combating violent crime is to hold those who commit violent acts accountable – that means quick and effective prosecution followed by prison sentences that are both meaningful and deterrent rather than policies such as those of the current Attorney General which result in feel-good plea bargains and a revolving-door criminal justice system.

Finally, Senate Bill 2 is not only discriminatory but blatantly racist, disproportionately impacting the very citizens that are being most affected by violent crime. Contrary to the protestations of the bill’s sponsors, Senate Bill 2 will impose a heavy economic impact on those who can least afford it.

The DSSA was instrumental in drafting the new Firearms Transfer Approval Program (FTAP) legislation that was passed and signed into law last year, about 10 months ago. FTAP is designed to address the very same issues cited by the sponsors of Senate Bill 2, yet it has not yet been implemented. Perhaps it is time to ask why the Carney Administration has yet to implement FTAP.

Since its founding in 1968, the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association has fought to protect and defend the rights of Delaware’s law-abiding hunters, gun owners, sportsmen and women. DSSA has a history of successfully defending those rights in court. Let there be no doubt, if SB 2 becomes the law of the land, DSSA will challenge that law in court.

DSSA calls upon all law-abiding Delawareans to reach out to their senators and representatives and tell them to oppose SB 2. SB2 is not only bad law, but also bad policy as well.

Jeff Hague, President of DSSA

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