Del. Senate passes legislation to ban large-capacity magazines

DOVER, Del. – The Delaware Senate has passed legislation to limit the firepower capabilities of deadly weapons in the First State.

Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 6 is the first measure in the gun safety package announced by Governor John Carney last week to pass in either chamber of the General Assembly. SS1 and SB6 would ban the sale of large-capacity magazines capable of holding more than 17 rounds, set elevated penalties for the use of illegal magazines in the commission of a crime, and create a buyback program to purchase large-capacity magazines currently in circulation.

Officials say large-capacity magazines have been used in all ten of the deadliest mass shootings in the past decade, while mass shootings that have involved large-capacity magazines have resulted in twice as many fatalities as those that do not. We’re told this is according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

In April 2021, the Senate passed Senate Bill 6, which sought to create a 17-round limit. About three months later, the House passed an amended version of the bill that raised the magazine cap to 20 rounds for handguns and 30 rounds for long guns, as well as replaced the prohibition on ownership and sales of those magazines with increased penalities for their use during the commission of a crime.

SS1 for SB6 restores the original 17-round limit on magazine capacity, retains the elevated penalties set by a House amendment, and increases the funding for the large-capacity buyback program by 200%.

The bill now heads to the House for consideration.