Del. Senate Deals Stunning Defeat to Gun Bill.

[elleng]

A bill that would have expanded the ability of Delaware authorities to prohibit people with mental health issues from having guns has been defeated in the state Senate even after being watered down to placate the National Rifle Association and other critics.

Senators voted 13-6 Thursday to reject the measure, which was pushed by Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden.

The legislation had cleared the House with only one dissenting vote. The chief sponsor said he was unaware of any problems prior to its defeat Thursday.

The legislation would have required mental health providers to call police if they believed a person posed a danger to himself or others. Police would have referred the case to the attorney general's office if they also believed the person shouldn't have access to firearms,

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/06/27/us/ap-us-guns-mental-health-delaware.html?hp

[Eleanors38]

1. Sounds like legislators got calls from...

Civil libertarians and mental health advocates concerned about due process. If a hearing with the "defendant" present comes before confiscation or firearm sale, the legislation should pass.