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State Senate passes gun permit bill

Tom Byrne
/
Delaware Public Media

The state Senate is debating two bills restricting access to firearms and high capacity magazines Thursday.  And the first of those two bills has passed.

A bill to create a permitting process to purchase guns was approved 13-9, with Democrat Bruce Ennis (D-Smyrna) joining Senate's 8 Republicans in opposing it.

Ennis argued the money going towards a handgun permit to purchase program could be instead used towards targeting gang activity and crime. He added criminals won’t be going through a background check to get a gun

Republican Senators also claim the bill infringes on Second Amendment rights and can prevent domestic violence victims from quickly obtaining a gun to defend themselves.

But those claims were rebuffed by Democrats. State Sen. Kyle Evans Gay (D-Brandywine Hundred) says women are too often used as a prop in gun rights arguments, and much more often than not, easy access to guns harms victims of domestic violence more than it helps.

The second bill seeking to limit high capacity magazines is now being debated.

Roman Battaglia grew up in Portland, Ore, and now reports for Delaware Public Media as a Report For America corps member. He focuses on politics, elections and legislation activity at the local, county and state levels.
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