Bill Text: DE HB23 | 2015-2016 | 148th General Assembly | Draft

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Bill Title: An Act To Amend Title 7 Of The Delaware Code Relating To Handgun Use Requirements.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 7-3)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-04-20 - Amendment HA 2 - Introduced and Placed With Bill [HB23 Detail]

Download: Delaware-2015-HB23-Draft.html

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SPONSOR:	Rep. Spiegelman & Sen. Ennis;
	Reps. D. Short, Hudson, Wilson, Carson, Paradee; Sen. Hocker, Lawson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

148th GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 23

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 7 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TOHANDGUN USE REQUIREMENTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1.Amend §704(g), Title 7 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strikethrough and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

(g) Except as set forth herein, no person may use a handgun in the pursuit, taking or attempted taking (hunting) of protected wildlife. A handgun as described herein may be used for the pursuit, taking and attempted taking (hunting) of deer on privately owned lands situated south of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal and those lands within the State owned by the State of Delaware so designated for this purpose by the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control at its discretion, under the following conditions:

(1) The handgun shall be limited to revolvers and single shot pistols with a minimum barrel length of 5.75 inches and not exceeding 12.5 inches and chambered for and using straight-wall handgun ammunition in.357 magnum, .41 caliber, .41 magnum, .44 caliber, 44 magnum, .45 caliber, .454 caliber, .480 caliber or .50 caliber .357 magnum,or a minimum .41 caliber to a maximum .50 caliber, and using open sights, metallic/mechanical, optical or telescopic sights;

(2) The handgun must be carried openly on a sling or in a holster and not concealed;

(3) To be used:

a. During a separate 7-day season to begin on the first Saturday in January through the second Saturday in January; and

b. In place of a shotgun during the shotgun deer season.

SYNOPSIS

This bill updates requirements for handguns used for deer hunting by adding a range and limit to allowable handgun calibers to accommodate changing handgun availability while maintaining public safety and handgun hunting efficacy.