HB 88, the bill that is aimed at keeping guns out of the hands of the mentally ill, remains stalled. The mentally ill, represented by the protestor above, are pleased, as now they can kill as many people they want with any gun they can get their hands on. The protestors there in Dover yesterday in opposition to HB 88 suffer under paranoid delusions, highlighting the need for this bill in the first place. From the News Journal:
[HB 88] failed in the state Senate on Thursday, receiving just six yes votes, but opponents feared it would come up for another vote before the session ended. Biden’s office authored the bill. Since the General Assembly session is two years long, the bill will remain active when the second half of the session begins in January.
Opponents worried that the bill will be applied in inappropriate cases. One protester carried a sign Sunday that read “Beau Biden. Leader of New Nazi Party of Delaware.” Another read “Hands off my guns.” […]
“There’s nothing that’s going to stop them from busting through your front door without a warrant and taking anybody’s weapons in the house,” said Martin Nicholson, a Marine Corps veteran and opponent of the bill.
… only if you are mentally ill, Mr. Nicholson. Are you, Mr. Nicholson? And even then, yes, there are plenty of things to stop them from just busting down your door without a warrant. First, there would be a police investigation, with all the appropriate findings of probable cause and issuances of warrants. Then, after that police investigation, Justice Department lawyers could petition a judge to ban the mentally ill patient from owning firearms and require him or her to relinquish any firearms in their control. So you object to that, Mr. Nicholson? Perhaps you are mentally ill. Perhaps you should not own a gun, Mr. Nicholson.
Meanwhile, Senator Townsend’s Senate Bills on education transparency, 147 and 148, passed the House. These bills are intended to snatch a small victory from the massive thrashing jaws of defeat that was the passage of the Charter School bill. Both bills are now waiting for Governor Markell’s signature.
Finally, the bill to rein in the powers of state Treasurer Chip Flowers was not brought to the floor for a vote. The bill, sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Patricia Blevins and backed by Govenor Markell, would have clarified who controls of the state’s $2 billion cash portfolio, the Cash Management Policy Board or State Treasurer Chip Flowers. Treasurer Flowers said the following:
“I had a positive discussion with representatives from the administration and Sen. Blevins. We think there’s a path to compromise and both sides are willing to work,” Flowers said. “All personality issues must be put aside.”
A little bit of projection there, no? If you’ve got lobby and backroom stories from last night, share.