DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney met in Legislative Hall on Wednesday with more than a dozen Delaware high school students who have helped organize walkouts and other efforts to pass gun safety legislation. The meeting included students from A. I. duPont High School, Caesar Rodney High School, Charter School of Wilmington, Dover High School, John Dickinson High School, Newark Charter School, Newark High School, Seaford High School, and Tower Hill School.

Governor Carney issued the following statement after his meeting:

“Students from across our state are standing up, making their voices heard, and calling for real change that will make Delaware safer. All adults should be listening, and should share their sense of urgency. For these students, the victims of the Parkland shooting are more than names they read about in the news. They were students just like them, who had bright futures and their whole lives ahead of them. In our meeting today, I thanked students for their leadership, and we discussed solutions that will directly confront the threat of gun violence. We are committed to taking action in Dover that will keep guns out of the hands of those who should not have them. And we’re committed to responsibly restricting access to bump stock devices, and military-style weapons. We are making progress, but there is a lot of work ahead of us. This leadership from Delaware students across our state could not be more important as we continue this work. Thank you to the students and their families for making time to meet today, and for their commitment to this issue.”

Multi-state partnership is aimed at preventing gun-related violence

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney announced on Monday that Delaware will join States for Gun Safety, a multi-state partnership aimed at preventing gun-related violence.

“Working together, states can take action that will directly confront the threat of gun violence, and reduce the toll it takes on our communities,” said Governor Carney. “This partnership will help us better share data across state borders, intercept the flow of illegal guns, and provide law enforcement with more tools to stop violence before it happens. Delaware is proud to join this partnership, and we look forward to getting to work.”

The Coalition was founded this month by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy, and Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker and Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló also joined the Coalition on Monday.

“The members of the States for Gun Safety Coalition are excited to have Governors Charlie Baker, John Carney and Ricardo Rossello join us in this partnership,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. “Together, we can take steps and enact measures to protect our residents and our communities. A collective of states can broaden the reach and impact of gun safety laws even if Congress or the President do not take action.”

“It’s time for the horrifying mass shootings that have plagued this country for far too long to spur real action and real policy changes,” said New York Governor Andrew Cuomo. “Our states collectively already have better gun safety laws than the federal government, and by working together to share information and bolster enforcement, we will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals and better protect our communities. If the federal government refuses to act, we will work together to enact the important reforms families deserve, and I welcome these new states to our coalition.”

“The addition of Massachusetts, Delaware, and Puerto Rico to this multi-state coalition is an important step toward regional cooperation to prevent gun violence, and I applaud these governors for being a partner in this endeavor,” Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy. “The massacre in Parkland – like the massacres in Las Vegas, Orlando, San Bernardino, Umpqua, Aurora, Sandy Hook, and countless others – are a tragic reminder of the urgent need to tear down political barriers and work together to make our communities, schools, and public places safer. I am hopeful that this represents the beginning of a turning point and that more states will join our growing partnership. That said, while we can make a significant difference, we need real and substantive action from Congress if we are serious about ending this epidemic of gun violence. It shouldn’t need saying, but the lives of children are far more important than any powerful special interest. It’s time to act.”

“Governor’s from both sides of the aisle are coming together to take action on gun violence. We cannot afford to wait another minute for Washington,” said Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo. “Earlier today, I signed an executive order establishing a state wide red flag policy, and Rhode Island will continue to take proactive steps to combat gun violence. By working together across state lines, this coalition will save lives. I welcome MA, DE and PR to our coalition.”

“Massachusetts is pleased to join the gun safety coalition to enhance the strong gun control measures already in place in the Commonwealth and our public safety officials will work collaboratively across state lines with coalition members to bolster efforts for stronger communication to keep our communities safe,” said Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker.

“We need to bring attention to the fact that there is an undisputed relation between the lack of gun control regulations and recent acts of gun violence that has resulted in the loss of innocent lives and that has brought together a Nation demanding action now,” said Puerto Rico Governor Ricardo Rosselló.

As part of the States for Gun Safety Coalition, Delaware will join a multi-state task force to trace and intercept illegal guns in the region. Delaware will also work in cooperation with other partner states to enhance intelligence gathering, information sharing, and response efforts related to gun violence. Participating states will leverage collective investigative resources in order to determine comprehensive, coordinated plans for gun violence responses.

Delaware will also now join partner states to share information about individuals who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm within each state. That information pathway enables law enforcement agencies to know if an individual has attempted to purchase or permit a weapon in a participating state. The agreement, in accordance with federal and state privacy protections, will provide state law enforcement agencies with details on the firearm purchase or permit denials for those who are disqualified. People may be disqualified from owning a firearm for several reasons, including an order of protection, commitment for a mental disorder, or criminal history.

Additionally, the partner states will also work together to designate an institute of higher education to join the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, a multi-disciplinary data-collection group tasked with producing recommendations for reducing gun violence.

By working cooperatively, participating states are making an effort to tackle issues related to the epidemic of gun violence, even if Congress and the President fail to take federal action.

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Related news:
Statement from Governor Carney on Gun Safety Laws
Governor Carney, Representative Bentz Announce Beau Biden Gun Violence Prevention Act

WILMINGTON, Del. – Governor John Carney issued the following statement on gun safety laws:

“Over the past several years, Delaware has made progress in strengthening our gun safety laws, to help give law enforcement the tools they need to more effectively confront gun violence. We’re also continuing to work with school districts to ensure that Delaware schools have up-to-date safety plans, and to provide training so students and educators know how to respond in the face of violence. But more needs to be done.

We are already working with Representative David Bentz to pass the Beau Biden Gun Violence Prevention Act, which will keep weapons out of the hands of those who mental health professionals and judges believe present a danger to themselves or others. I have also urged the General Assembly to pass a bill, introduced by Representative Valerie Longhurst, that would ban bump stock devices.

In the coming weeks, my team will work closely with lawmakers to craft legislation that would prohibit the sale of assault-style rifles in Delaware. As we have seen in Las Vegas, Parkland, and in many other horrific incidents across our country, military-style weapons can be used to carry out catastrophic acts of violence. They have no place on the streets of our neighborhoods.

We need a national approach to this mortal threat to our safety. We stand ready to do our part here in Delaware, and I would urge President Trump and members of Congress to do the same at the national level. It’s past time to take serious action to confront this threat. I look forward to working with lawmakers in both parties here in Delaware to make our state safer.”

Multi-disciplinary group charged with raising public awareness and adding to existing statewide suicide prevention efforts

Wilmington, DE – Governor Markell announced today that he has signed an Executive Order that brings a diverse coalition of stakeholders together to reduce the number of suicides by firearm. It builds upon sustained work across Delaware over more than a decade to understand the many causes and factors that lead to suicide, raise awareness, and promote strategies to reduce suicide.

Nationally, fully half of all suicide deaths occur by firearm.

“Suicide tragically cuts short lives, while devastating families and having long-lasting effects on communities,” Governor Markell said. “While we have increased awareness and expanded suicide-prevention resources, we can do more. I’m particularly concerned by the number of these acts that involve the use of firearms and we have the opportunity to engage a wide range of advocates to find solutions that reduce the number of these tragedies. Together, I know that we can more effectively reach out to people in crisis to give them hope – and help – to overcome their feelings of despair.”

Nationally each year more than 40,000 people take their lives through suicide. Suicide occurs disproportionately among young people, where it’s the 2nd highest cause of death, and among veterans, where the suicide rate is double that of the civilian population. Moreover, the number of suicide attempts for every suicide death is estimated to be as high as 25:1 among youth. In addition to its tragic and devastating effects on families and communities, the annual financial impact of suicide nationwide runs in the tens of billions of dollars.

Each week, an average of more than 2 Delawareans take their lives through suicide. Each year across the First State, suicides surpass the number of motor vehicle deaths and nearly doubles the number of homicides.

Public Health officials, policymakers, and others have recognized that suicides are a significant, and preventable, public health problem, and by focusing additional attention on the challenge of firearm suicides, Governor Markell’s Executive Order seeks to build upon the progress Delaware has made in addressing this issue. Since 2004, the Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition has convened a diverse cross section of stakeholders to raise suicide awareness, provide education about the warning signs, and marshal tailored suicide prevention resources and services. Most recently, last month, Governor Markell signed legislation championed by Senate Pro Tempore Patricia Blevins, D-Elsmere, and others, which codified the Coalition in state law and extends its mission.

“Suicide is a preventable symptom of a larger problem, whether that’s substance abuse, depression, PTSD, or some other trauma,” Senator Blevins said. “More than half of all gun-related deaths in America are self-inflicted, and each day thousands of people—many of whom are veterans, or even our own kids—continue to suffer in silence. We owe it to them, to those we’ve lost, and to ourselves to take a scientific approach to suicide prevention, and Governor Markell understands that. I’m grateful for his action on this urgent issue, and I’m proud to be a part of the dialogue and the effort to find meaningful solutions.”

Executive Order 63 creates the Firearm Suicide Prevention Task Force which is charged with:
· Examining the current outreach, education and training about suicide to firearm owners
· Reviewing models and data from other state and local governments on effective public strategies for suicide prevention among firearm owners
· Developing recommendations to reduce suicides by firearms in Delaware
· Reviewing ways to connect mental health resources with at-risk populations, and
· Engaging firearm advocates, dealers and clubs in suicide prevention efforts

House Majority Leader Valerie Longhurst has spearheaded several efforts to address suicide in Delaware in recent years, including requiring more suicide prevention training in schools and raising awareness for veterans who commit suicide by organizing a “22 in 22” awareness campaign. Rep. Longhurst pushed for a task force during the legislative session and approached Governor Markell this fall to create the group.

“Suicide is a silent epidemic that claims the lives of more than 42,000 people in our country each year. We need to bring this issue into the light, bring a voice to the problem and work to prevent suicides from happening,” said Rep. Longhurst, D-Bear. “Firearms account for half of all suicide deaths, so we need to take steps to not only raise awareness, but also address ways to reduce these suicides. That means engaging firearms owners, dealers and advocacy groups, because this is an issue that directly affects them. They have a huge stake in reducing firearm-related suicides, so we need them at the table working to tackle this epidemic. I look forward to working with all members in the coming months.”

This work on suicide prevention will also build on broader progress on gun safety, which has included better reporting of people with mental health challenges to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, expanding background checks to private sales, mandating reporting of lost and stolen weapons and, this past year, closing another loophole that allowed people to acquire firearms without a background check.

Firearm Suicide Prevention Task Force members will include representatives from both houses of the General Assembly, the Commission of Veterans Affairs, the Delaware Sportsman Association, Delaware firearm dealers, representatives of suicide prevention organizations, public members, and the heads of the state departments of Health and Social Services, Kids, and Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

The Task Force will begin its work immediately and will report back to the General Assembly and Delaware Suicide Prevention Coalition by January 1, 2017.

Read full text of Executive Order 63 here.

Legislation requires criminal history checks in connection with virtually all gun sales

(Dover, DE)  Governor Markell issued the following statement after the passage of House Bill 35 in the Delaware House of Representatives:

“Delaware is a step closer to making our citizens safer by requiring a background check on nearly every gun purchase or transfer. The litany of tragic shootings in other states and in our own state should be all the impetus we need to do more to keep guns out of the hands of people who shouldn’t have them. But this is also a common sense measure that is supported by an overwhelming 88 percent of Delawareans.  The changes that were made to the bill today show that Representative Valerie Longhurst and other legislators are listening to the concerns of the community and are willing to make reasonable accommodations. They also made clear that this bill is not about taking people’s guns or about gun registration. I appreciate and thank the legislators, law enforcement officers, and everyday Delawareans who supported HB 35.”

The bill was unveiled by the Governor during a news conference with former Congressman and Governor Mike Castle earlier this month.

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Governor Markell recently spoke about Delaware’s proposed gun safety legislation during an interview on MSNBC’s Morning Joe.