General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 15, 2022

Kids, the term ‘gun safety’ only applies to the Kop Kabal package of bills in the sense that it’s used for PR purposes.  If the bills that passed there yesterday become law, medical marijuana users too can possess weapons of mass destruction, the cops have complete control over criminal background checks, and there are so many loopholes in the bill raising the legal age to own a WMD from 18 to 21 to render it ineffective. You simply must check out the amendment that Speaker Pete added to HB 451 yesterday.  The bill purports to raise the legal age for purchasing a WMD from 18 to 21.  The amendment:

…adds that a person under the age of 21 may possess or control a firearm for the purpose of engaging in lawful hunting so long as the person is in compliance with already-existing Delaware law that identifies the firearm accoutrements, ammunition, and number of cartridges that may be used on specific lands during a particular hunting season. This amendment also makes clear that a person is not in violation of § 1448(a)(5) if the person possesses or uses a firearm during the use of force upon or towards another person if such use of force is justifiable for the protection of self or others or property.

W-w-wait.  So, although it’s illegal (with generous exceptions) to possess a WMD if you’re under 21, if you are under 21 and in the possession of said WMD, you are not in violation of the law ‘if the person possesses or uses a firearm during the use of force upon or towards another person if such use of force is justifiable for the protection of self or others or property.‘   Meaning, they can possess such guns, but only if they use them against someone who they deem to be a threat??  This is an invitation for those under age to acquire and use WMD’s.  Just one more illustration why the Kop Kabal must go.  Maybe the Senate will excise this cruel joke of an amendment.  Maybe not.

Oh, and fellow Kop Kabal member Larry Mitchell also passed an amendment on HB 423 which eliminated some independent oversight of the background check process:

The amendment removes Section 2 from House Bill No. 423 which requires the Firearms Transaction Approval Program to conduct the background checks required for applications for a license to carry concealed deadly weapons. As such, all references to those specific background checks and inquiries by the Superior Court for such background checks have been deleted by this amendment.

This is what happens when the cops and the NRA are given carte blanche  to write the House’s gun legislation.

Here is yesterday’s Session Activity report.

No House Agenda today.  This could be the final week of regularly-scheduled House committee meetings, as there are only about six legislative sessions remaining after this week.

Here is today’s Senate Agenda. Darius Brown’s special interest bill is on a Consent Agenda.  What could be more Delaware Way than that?

Massive committee meeting day.  Senate highlights:

*SB 316 (Pinkney) ‘caps the amount that an individual, group, or State employee plan may charge for diabetes equipment and supplies, other than insulin, at $35 per month.’  Banking, Business & Insurance.

*SB 320 (Gay) ‘establishes voting by mail under the General Assembly’s broad powers under § 1, Article V of the Delaware Constitution to “prescribe the means, methods and instruments of voting”.’  Great bill, plus Rethug heads will explode.  Win-win.  Elections & Government Affairs.

*SB 8 (Sokola) ‘defines machine gun as it is defined under federal law. Defining machine gun makes clear the types of weapons prohibited under Delaware law, including an auto sear, or “glock switch”, which transforms a semiautomatic gun into a machine gun. Additionally, this Act prohibits a person from making a destructive weapon, including a machine gun.’ Executive.

*SB 302 (Townsend): ‘This Act is named for Keshall “KeKe” Anderson. KeKe was an innocent bystander who was killed in a 2016 shooting involving a firearm purchased through a straw purchase. The repeal in Section 2 of this Act means victims and their families may seek relief from courts and juries instead of being denied their day in court. Section 3 of this Act provides a cause of action to enable firearm manufacturers and retail dealers to be held accountable when they knowingly or recklessly take actions that endanger the health and safety of residents of this State through the sale, manufacture, distribution, and marketing of firearm-related products.’  Executive.

There are also plenty of House bills being considered in Senate committees.  Check each committee listing to see which ones as I’ve previously covered them. (BTW, I initially incorrectly spelled ‘covered’ as ‘covefed’.  Perhaps Trump got a bad rap on that one… uh, perhaps not):

Today’s House committee highlights:

*Does this sound like a cover-up to you?  Allow me to quote from the synopsis of HB 471, courtesy of Ol’ Lumpy Carson:

Department of Agriculture recently responded to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza impacting Delaware poultry farms in coordination with agencies and officials from Delaware, Maryland, and USDA APHIS, as well as individual farmers and independent contractors. In connection with that response, the Department received or drafted certain information regarding persons, animals, land, and emergency response plans that should be confidential. This Act will help to protect the safety and security of individuals, agricultural operations, and animals and avoid any vulnerabilities that disclosure poses on the control and eradication of disease among animal species.

What?  Sounds like what is not being protected is the public’s right-to-know.  Especially since the actions of those who are being promised confidentiality could well have compromised public safety.  I sure don’t trust Lumpy and the Ag Industry to protect our interests.  If I was, say, an editor, I’d assign a reporter to get to the bottom of this story. Agriculture.

*HB 220 (Wilson-Anton) ‘is the first leg of an amendment to the Delaware Constitution to conserve, protect and maintain Delaware’s natural resources, including its water, air, soil, flora, fauna, ecosystems and climate. This Amendment would create an inherent and inalienable right for all Delawareans to a clean and healthy environment. The Amendment would also declare that the State, including all of its branches, agencies, and political subdivisions, as trustee of the State’s natural resources.’ Bill’s been sitting in committee for over a month and a half.  We’ll find out if it was to bury it.  Administration.

*HB 405 (Kowalko) ‘establishes an independent and nonpartisan Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the position of the Inspector General. The OIG will protect the health and safety of Delaware residents, assist in the recovery of misspent or inappropriately paid funds, and strengthen government integrity and the public trust in government operations…’  Bill’s been in committee for over a month and a half.  We’ll find out if it was to bury it and/or to run out the legislative clock.  Administration.

*HB 458 (Chukwuocha).  Buccini/Pollin’s latest property grab.  Been in committee a week.  Which of these three bills do you think has the best chance of reaching the floor? Administration.

*HS1/HB 349 (Lambert) ‘allows a landlord to offer the tenant an option to pay a recurring fee in lieu of a security deposit. This option enables tenants who cannot afford a security deposit to find a rental. This Act requires landlords choosing to provide the option to one tenant in a multiunit property to provide the option to all new tenants in that property’.  Housing & Community Affairs.

Back tomorrow.  When it comes to the General Assembly, we’ve got you covfefed.