DOVER, Del. (AP) - The state Senate is poised to vote on a bill requiring the reporting of lost or stolen firearms.
Supporters of the measure to be voted on Thursday say it could help reduce gun violence by cracking down on so-called straw purchases, in which people buy guns for sale or transfer to others who aren't supposed to have them.
Authorities note that people who illegally make straw purchases for others often escape prosecution by telling investigators that a straw-purchased gun was lost or stolen.
The bill would require a person to report to police within 48 hours of discovering that a firearm is lost or stolen. A first offense for failing to report would be a misdemeanor subject to a fine of up to $500. Subsequent offenses would be felonies.
