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Dear Alliance Members and Friends,

Two bills are up for votes in the Delaware House of Representatives on Tuesday, May 18, regarding two very important issues:  Voting Rights and Gun Safety.

Voting

Registration

SB5, which was passed by the Delaware Senate, would implement automatic voter registration whenever you supply identification to a public agency, such as Motor Vehicles.  There would be no need for a separate trip to an Elections Department Office or to fill out an application on line.
https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=48446

As we’ve said before, Legislators in 43 states have introduced over 300 bills that limit voting rights.  These bills aim to roll back vote by mail either by eliminating it or requiring an excuse for absentee voting, they make it harder to vote by mail by reducing the number of drop boxes in a geographic area for vbm ballots.  They also shorten hours for in-person voting and they shorten the time to be able to register to vote.  Georgia and Texas have been in the news recently because of such legislation passed in those states.

But the first step in this process is to be registered to vote!  We urge you to write or call your House Representative to urge support for this very important legislation.

Absentee/Early Voting Constitutional Amendment

In addition, HB75, the constitutional amendment that would remove the requirement of an excuse for absentee voting, was scheduled for a vote on Thursday, May 13, but the vote did not occur because the support of two representatives needed to pass the amendment was not firm.  This amendment is the key to allowing permanent vote by mail legislation.  It is possible this amendment may come up again for a vote before the session ends, possibly as soon as Thursday, May 20.  Call or write your representatives and urge them to vote in favor of this very important amendment.

Sensible Gun Regulations

Also on the agenda for Tuesday, May 18, is HB124, which will prohibit the possession or purchase of deadly weapons by carefully defined categories of people who present a real threat of death or injury to others.

Specifically, HB 124 prohibits a person who is the subject of a Protection from Abuse Order and who knows or has reason to know that the protective order has been issued from purchasing, owning, possessing or controlling a deadly weapon or firearm ammunition in Delaware. It also prohibits the purchase of a firearm by a person who is a subject of an outstanding arrest warrant, active indictment or information relating to a felony or misdemeanor crime of domestic violence. In order for this prohibition to apply, the person must know or have reason to know that the process is pending. https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=48486

The CDC National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reported that as many as one in four women and one in nine men are victims of domestic violence. In 2007, 14% of all homicide victims in the United States were killed by intimate partners. Of those homicide victims who were female, 24% were killed by a spouse or ex-spouse and an additional 21% were killed by a boyfriend or girlfriend. (Source—Bureau of Justice Statistics).  Statistics also establish that racial and ethnic minorities are disproportionately affected by intimate partner violence.

Call or write to your House representatives and urge them to vote in favor of this important measure that would help to limit the number of guns deaths.

The phone numbers and emails for the Sussex House Representatives are:

  • PETER C. SCHWARTZKOPF (D-14, Rehoboth Beach)
    (O) 302-744-4351 — e-mail: peter.schwartzkopf@state.de.us
  • GEORGE ROBERT QUILLEN (R-30, Harrington)
    (O) 302-744-4803 — e-mail: bobby.quillen@state.de.us
  • G. WALLACE CAULK (R-33, Frederica)
    (O) 302-744-4081 — e-mail: wallace.caulk@state.de.us
  • J. BENJAMIN EWING JR. (R-35, Bridgeville)
    (O) 302-744-4150 —
  • V. GEORGE CAREY (R-36, Milford)
    (O) 302-744-4119 — e-mail: george.carey@state.de.us
  • JOSEPH R. BOOTH (R-37, Georgetown)
    (O) 302-744-4425 — e-mail: joseph.booth@state.de.us
  • GERALD W. HOCKER (R-38, Ocean View)
    (O) 302-744-4381 — e-mail: gerald.hocker@state.de.us
  • EVELYN K. “TINA” FALLON (R-39, Seaford)
    (O) 302-744-4172 — e-mail: tina.fallon@state.de.us
  • CLIFFORD G. LEE (R-40, Laurel)
    (O) 302-744-4034 — e-mail: biff.lee@state.de.us
  • JOHN ATKINS (R-41, Millsboro)
    (O) 302-744-4082 — e-mail: john.atkins@state.de.us