Governors call for Red Flag Laws, Universal Background Checks, Banning Assault Weapons and High-Capacity Magazines, Stricter Reporting Requirements

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney and the Governors of California, Connecticut, Illinois, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington today issued a letter calling on President Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to take action on sensible gun safety measures.

Read the letter here:

To: The President of the United States, Donald J. Trump
Cc: Senate Majority Leader, The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Our country continues to mourn the tragic events in Gilroy, El Paso, Dayton, Philadelphia, and Odessa. These five unnecessary and horrific tragedies took at least 34 lives, wounded dozens, and caused emotional trauma to countless others. Unfortunately, these losses account for only a fraction of recent gun-related deaths. In 2019, over 10,000 people have been shot and killed, and 570 people were killed by a gun in the past two weeks alone. Thoughts and prayers won’t fix this disturbing trend. Enough is enough.

Public safety is the first and most important responsibility of government, and the failure to act to protect the public is a failure in leadership. As Governors, it is our responsibility to listen to our communities’ calls for action. However, a patchwork of state laws will never be a substitute for coherent national policy.

The federal government has a history of acting on gun reform when the American public demands it. In 1934, the federal government regulated machine guns. In 1968, the federal government banned mail order gun sales. In 1994, the federal government implemented a 10-year ban on assault weapons. Americans are again calling on their government to act, and it’s time to listen.

Putting an end to the gun violence epidemic is not a Republican or Democratic issue, it is an American issue. Gun deaths do not have to be the norm. The time is now to break the cycle by enacting four common-sense measures. We implore you to work with Congress to pass sensible gun legislation that includes the following four policies that a majority of Americans support:

• Pass Extreme Risk Protection Order legislation, commonly referred to as Red Flag laws, preventing individuals who pose a risk to themselves or others from purchasing or possessing a firearm;
• Pass universal background checks closing the private gun sales loophole;
• Outlaw assault weapons and high-capacity magazines; and
• Establish stricter reporting requirements to prevent those deemed by a mental health professional to be a danger to themselves or others from purchasing a firearm

The American public supports action. So do we.

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View and download a copy of the Governors’ letter.

Learn more about Governor Carney’s call for comprehensive gun safety reforms.

Related news:

Governor Carney Signs Beau Biden Gun Violence Prevention Act

Governor Carney Signs Red Flag Legislation

Governor Carney’s Statement on Bump Stock Ban

Governor Carney Signs School Safety Legislation

New Delaware Law Requires Safe Storage of Firearms

Governor Carney Signs Legislation Strengthening Penalties on Straw Purchases

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney issued the following statement on efforts in Congress to repeal the Affordable Care Act:

“Any changes to the Affordable Care Act and our nation’s health system more broadly should focus on reducing cost, expanding access to quality healthcare, and protecting the most vulnerable among us. Legislation passed last week by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives would take us in the wrong direction. The legislation would shift costs onto those who can least afford it and target important protections for those with pre-existing conditions. It also could cost Delaware taxpayers millions and worsen our state budget challenges by reducing federal funding for Medicaid. My administration will continue to work closely with our congressional delegation to analyze the potential impact to Delawareans.”

Wilmington, DE – Below is a statement from the Governor’s office on the passage of Expatriate Health Coverage Clarification Act of 2014 (H.R. 4414) by the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill clarifies the Affordable Care Act does not apply to expatriate health insurance plans, such as those plans offered by Cigna, which employs hundreds of Delawareans working on these plans.

“The Governor has been working with Cigna for several years on making sure that expatriate insurance plans are treated fairly under the ACA and that Cigna’s business stays and can grow in Delaware. This situation is about jobs, and the Governor commends the tireless efforts by Representative Carney, Senator Carper, and Senator Coons, who have all worked incredibly hard to find a solution that fairly supports the workers who manage these plans. As the Governor has emphasized to the Obama administration on numerous occasions, it does not make sense to treat expatriate insurance plans managed from Delaware the same as domestic insurance plans. The bill that passed today particularly reflects Representative Carney’s commitment to resolving this issue and it represents another important step toward preventing our insurers from being put at a competitive disadvantage overseas, while protecting jobs.”

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 20, 2013) – Last week, Karen Weldin Stewart met with members of her Congressional delegation to discuss insurance issues affecting the Delaware residents. Commissioner Stewart joined insurance regulators from more than 35 states and territories in Washington, D.C. to meet with representatives from various federal agencies as well as their elected Members of Congress. Coordinated by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the meetings enhance collaboration between state and federal officials on a national scale. “The intersection of state and federal policy has never been more critical to the insurance sector as it is right now,” said Commissioner Stewart. “My job is to protect consumers, and part of that is to ensure that decisions made in Washington are in the best interest of the citizens of Delaware.”
Regulators were briefed by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, of the Department of Health and Human Services and Governor Daniel K. Tarullo, of the Federal Reserve Board. Congressman Randy Neugebauer of Texas, chair of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance, also addressed the group. Subjects discussed included the impact of Dodd-Frank and Affordable Care Act on states, the agenda of the House Financial Services Committee as well international regulatory developments. Commissioner Stewart was pleased with the outcome of the meetings and stated, “The First State is fortunate to have such dedicated representatives in Washington, D.C., and I look forward to working with them on all matters of insurance that impact the lives of Delawareans.”

Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart and fellow members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) met in Washington, D.C. last week to confer with members of Congress about ongoing insurance-related efforts.

More than 36 state insurance regulators gathered for the NAIC Washington Forum where they were briefed by the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal S. Wolin. Representative Judy Biggert(R-IL), chairperson of the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity, also presented to the NAIC members.

Commissioner Stewart met with staff from all three members of the Delaware Congressional delegation and spoke directly with U.S. Senator Tom Carper and U.S. Congressman John Carney. Topics discussed were:

• Dodd–Frank reform provisions such as the Federal Insurance Office and the Financial Services Oversight Council.
• The reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program.
• State implementation efforts for health care reform.
• Constituent outreach and education on Medicare and ElderInfo efforts.

“Delaware is fortunate to have Congressional delegation members that care about how the decisions they make in Washington are impacting what is happening in Delaware,” said Commissioner Stewart. “As Insurance Commissioner, it is my job to ensure that policymakers are aware, consumers are protected, and a competitive insurance market continues to exist in our state. Last week’s visit assists the Department of Insurance in serving Delawareans in all three areas.”