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Women's Rights Advance, Gun Measure Stalls in Delaware State House

Official photo

The Delaware House of Representatives has approved an amendment to the state constitution to guarantee equal rights for women.

The measure was approved by a 34-5 vote.

The Wilmington News Journal reports that House Majority leader Valerie Longhurst teared up after the vote saying that she had pondered the impact this amendment would have on young girls in the state.

The News Journal reports that the bill would only apply to government agencies and policies not private industry.

The amendment must still get a supermajority in both the House and the Senate during two consecutive legislative sessions.

Meanwhile, the effort to raise the age for buying a firearm to 21 failed to get a vote on the Senate floor amidst a host of amendments.

A vote on the measure has been postponed until after the two week Easter break.

The House passed the measure last week but House Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf wanted the Senate measure delayed in order to evaluate proposed changes.

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.