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News Journal Poll: Gun Safety the Top Issue in Delaware. Lawmakers Should Take Note.

January 14, 2020

Today marks the opening day of the 2020 legislative session and according to a new poll by DelawareOnline/News Journal, gun safety is the top issue voters want to see prioritized. Last session, volunteers with the Delaware chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America worked tirelessly to urge passage of common-sense gun legislation, only to see it stall due to inaction in the Senate.

Lawmakers have indicated that they will take up gun safety legislation again this session. In 2020, volunteers with Delaware Moms Demand Action plan to support the following bills introduced last session:

  • SB 82 — legislation to require purchase permits, also known as qualified purchaser cards, for all firearm sales in Delaware. This legislation was introduced by Senators Sturgeon and Townsend and Representatives Griffith and Bentz.
  • SB 70 — legislation to prohibit large-capacity magazines, which increase the lethality of shootings, introduced by Senators Sokola and Townsend and Representative Baumbach. 
  • SB 68 — legislation to prohibit assault weapons, which are commonly used in mass shootings, introduced by Senator Townsend and Representative Chukwuocha.

According to EveryStat, more than 100 people die by gun violence every year in Delaware. More than 80 percent of all gun deaths among children and teens in Delaware are homicides—compared to 58 percent nationally. Last year, Delaware polling conducted by SurveyUSA on behalf of Everytown found strong public support for legislation requiring a purchase permit for all firearms sales, as well as legislation prohibiting assault weapons and large-capacity magazines.

As the News Journal poll makes clear, Delawareans want lawmakers to prioritize common-sense gun safety in 2020.  

If you have any questions on this legislation or would like to speak to a volunteer with Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, don’t hesitate to reach out.

If you're a member of the media, please send inquiries to [email protected]