Delaware gun bills stall in committee

DOVER — Three controversial gun bills will not be released from committee, meaning they are essentially dead.

The measures, which were discussed before a packed house in the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday, would have prohibited a variety of semi-automatic firearms classified as “assault weapons,” criminalized magazines capable of holding more than 15 rounds and established a permitting process to buy a gun.

While the bills faced an uphill climb to become law, defeat in the first real test of the legislative process is a surprising outcome and a big blow to gun control advocates. Opponents on the committee still could reverse their decision and send the bills to the entire Senate, but the odds of such a change of opinion appear slim.

In order to release a measure from committee, a majority of members on the panel must sign on, and despite having a 4-2 majority on the Senate Executive Committee, Democrats could not push the bills to the floor for a vote before the full Senate.

Read more: https://delawarestatenews.net/government/delaware-gun-bills-stall-in-committee/