‘Having a Gun While Intoxicated’ Bill Fails by 1 vote.
Senate Bill 29, or more specifically Senate Substitute Bill 1 to Senate Bill 29, which would have made it illegal for individuals to possess loaded, un-stored and active firearms outside of their homes while under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was just defeated in the Senate by a vote of 10 to 7. It takes 11 votes to pass a bill in the Senate. You will notice that there are four missing Senators, because the Senate has 21 members, and only 17 of them did their jobs tonight. Who are the four who decided not to vote on this bill?
Senator Harris B. McDowell.
Senator Bethany Hall-Long.
Senator Michael S. Katz
Senator Gary Simpson.
Now, Republican Minority Leader Simpson is a minor puzzle. Perhaps there are procedural reasons. But you would figure he would vote no. But I am flummoxed by the remaining three. Bethany Hall-Long is a nurse and a nursing instructor. So I guess she just wants more gun shot victims to treat. That reason might also apply to Dr. Michael Katz, MD, who is also a supposed friend to Progressives. I will be entertained by his explanation on not voting yes on this bill. And I sure hope the reason is not that the bill did not go far enough. I am a Progressive, but I am not a purist. I will take progress any way I can get it, one step at a time if need be.
As for the partisan make up of the remaining votes for and against, you will be surprised that it was not along party lines. Four Democrats voted no. They are Robert Venables, George Bunting, Bruce Ennis and David McBride. I guess out of those four, I am disappointed and surprised at McBride.
Two Republicans voted yes, and they are who you would expect: Cathy Cloutier and Dori Connor.
This is the first of Governor Markell’s gun control proposals to be defeated. Two others have passed the General Assembly and will be signed by the Governor: HB 48, which creates an exception to Delaware’s Mental Health Patients’ Bill of Rights for reporting information to the federal National Instant Criminal Background Check System; and HB 46, which provides for the disposal of seized firearms. The remaining bill, SB 39, would close the “gun show loophole” by requiring firearms vendors to have a licensed firearms dealer perform a background check prior to the sale, delivery or transfer of any firearm at a firearms show. It is still in the Senate Judiciary Committee. To that end, Delaware’s Police Chiefs have encouraged the Senate to get off their buts.
So, good news gun loving Delawareans. Feel free to get drunk and carry a loaded weapon. The rest of us will run for cover.
What a bunch of bullshit! Bethany Hall-Long votes with Ennis because they think their districts are populated by a bunch of fetal alcohol syndrome defective hayseeds and inbred morons. (When it comes to the RD committee they are right.)
Katz, you dick.
McDowell gets a pass from me because he was probably drunk during the vote. That’s a better excuse that whatever BHL and Katz will dream up.
“Feel free to get drunk and carry a loaded weapon.”
Cool. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to make a choice.
Actually, according to the legislation, it doesn’t have to be loaded, just in possession. Small wonder it failed. It’s one the most vague and poorly written pieces of legislation I’ve ever seen. I agree with the intent of the law, but not the letter (as written). They did a fair job of defining ‘under the influence’ and ‘principal place of residence’, but are seriously lacking on the ‘possession’ component of this law.
http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis146.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+29/$file/legis.html?open
I’m going to get liquored up and shoot a gun to celebrate this narrow victory over the forces of evil.
Fantastic! Maybe the next time I get shot by a drunk I’ll be crippled. Aim for the spine, assholes.
I really wish Venables would get rid of the “D” after his name. It’s embarrasing.
I feel the penis is a gun symbol and, as such, should have the right to go off any time, even when you’re knee-knockin’, snot slingin’ drunk.
[TIC]
McDowell gets no pass from me. How the fuck can a Wilmington legislator miss such a vote? Is he afraid that he’ll lose NRA votes in Claymont?
Memo to prospective primary challengers: Circle this vote and use it over and over. Time to hold this one-time progressive accountable by easing him into retirement.
And Sen. Katz looks more and more like a whacko fraud. Kinda like his opponent in 2008.
Re McDowell — see Ennis and Hall-Long. He’s representing his constituents in Middletown.
Funny — when Barack Obama was in the Illinois Senate, he voted “present” more than any other member of the body. Was he not doing his job then? For that matter, as US Senator he missed more votes than any other member of the body during that time period. Guess he was a lazy incompetent in that position, too.
Sorry Anon, the US Senator accusation is false. McCain missed more votes than Obama.
As for the Illinois Senate, can you provide a link for that? I have only been able to find how many he voted present on, not how it measured up with every other senator.
That bill was nothing but another “pile on” charge for a DUI arrest or fish and wildlife case. Good thing it was defeated.
I blame Dick Cheney.
So now that a modified and improved version of the bill has passed, I find it curious that you have not made mention of this.
http://www.legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis146.nsf/2bede841c6272c888025698400433a04/cf3e0009834c518b852578b10057eb35?OpenDocument
Sometimes legislation doesn’t get passed because it is poorly written, pure and simple. It would do you well to recognize and remember that.
Right here, Sparky.
http://delawareliberal.net//2011/06/30/general-assembly-post-game-wrap-uppre-game-show-thurs-june-30-2011/#comment-239834