A rhetorical gunfight broke out Wednesday during a Senate hearing on legislation that would close what critics call the "gun show loophole" and what opponents call a solution in search of a problem.
Further gunpowder was added to the already heated debate by a Tuesday email from the National Rifle Association to its Delaware members saying that the bill, part of a package of gun-related bills advanced by Gov. Jack Markell, is "a move towards an ultimate ban on all private sales -- even those between family and friends -- regardless of where they occur."
That claim was disavowed by Markell, who in a statement said it is "unfortunate that the NRA has chosen to mischaracterize" the bill.
Under current federal and state law, licensed firearms vendors selling at gun shows must perform background checks, just like they do at their places of business. But private citizens wishing to sell their own guns can do so without conducting background checks, as long as the sales are occasional and they are not in the firearms business.
Senate Bill 39 would require background checks to be conducted for all sales at gun shows. Licensed firearms dealers would have to request the checks through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System on behalf of unlicensed vendors making sales. Sales between private citizens not taking place at gun shows would not be affected.
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