Some follow up on the post yesterday about some gun related bills getting a hearing in Delaware comes to us from the President of the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association, John J. Thompson:
As the president of the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association please let me assure you that [HB 46] is anything but harmless. The police have allowed the problem to occur. They make no effort whatsoever to notify the firearm owner that the firearm may be retrieved. When they have possession of other types of personal property the police contact the owner so as to return the items. Current law already provides a procedure for the disposition of abandoned property. The police refuse to use it.
Please do not be confused by the use of the term disposal. The Governor published a set of frequently asked questions and is his answer to one he made it clear that the sale of abandoned firearms was not an option because public safety forbids putting guns back on the street. At today’s hearing the Governor’s spokesperson, only after being cornered, admitted that all firearms would be destroyed.  The sentiments expressed is his answer could easily be applied to all firearms because he made it clear that guns in the the hands of law abiding citizens present a threat to public safety. Remember this is the same Governor that believes that residents of public housing are second class citizens and are not capable of having firearms in their homes.
That changes my view on HB 46. I wasn’t very aware how authorities in Delaware were currently treating the issue, but needless to say a bill that forces police to destroy guns that could otherwise be sold to the law abiding is unacceptable. A bill that allows police to destroy the guns after failing to make a good faith effort to return them is unconscionable.
I recant my previous statement based on what this means in actual practice and suggest folks oppose HB 46.