A service of Salisbury University and University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Gun Background Check Hearing Extended in Delaware

all-free-download.com

DOVER, Del. (AP) - A state House committee has temporarily tabled a bill expanding criminal background checks for gun purchases in Delaware to include sales between private sellers and buyers. But it is expected to receive fresh scrutiny in coming days.

The bill was tabled in the House judiciary committee Wednesday after time ran out with more than a dozen people still waiting to speak.

The committee will resume consideration of the bill next week. The vast majority of people who spoke at Wednesday's committee meeting were opposed to the bill.

The legislation is part of a package of gun control measures proposed by Gov. Jack Markell in the wake of the mass shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut in December.

Under current law, background checks are required for purchases from federally licensed firearms dealers, but not for transactions between private sellers and buyers.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.