Jeff Spiegelman [not shown], Representative 11th District, Delaware writes:
Yesterday early afternoon, HB 35 (universal background checks) passed. While this was not what many of us wanted, we did score some major victories. There were 11 amendments proposed with 4 amendments to the amendments. but one of them passed. Some of the additions to the bill include . . .
-Concealed Deadly Weapon permit holders do not have to go through a FFL for private sales
-Curio and Relic firearms do not have to go through an FFL
-The fee for the background check was lowered from $50 to $30
-Muzzleloaders are now exempt. (Can you BELIEVE they wrote a law that didn’t have them exempt before?!?!?!)
-The Amish will have special provisions to allow them to still buy a firearm without a photo ID
-Expanded the definition of what family members can get a firearm without a background check
-Provided a provision that specifically says that the background checks and the paper work needed for the checks are not to be used for any form of gun registration, gun owner database, or subject to the Freedom of Information Act
-Provided liability protection to the FFL dealers in the course of following the law.
I know it is not ideal. However, the amendments make the law less of an affront to the rights of gun owners than the law would have been without them.
In case you are wondering, I voted for the addition of every amendment (including the amendment that did not get passed. This would have exempted private sales of shotguns from a background check) but then voted against the bill. The count was 24-17.
Have a very good Easter everyone. We will be back after the April break and leading the charge to defend the Constitution. Your energy and your spirit is what got these amendments put on a bill that tastes a little less terrible than it did before. Keep up the good work and I will keep you informed what is going to happen with the next phase. In the meantime, I will be hiding eggs for my niece while trying to keep my dog from finding them before she can.