House lawmakers have filed legislation to close a loophole allowing gun dealers to sell a firearm after three business days if a background check is still in progress.
Democrats unveiled their plan in February after sending a letter to the state’s congressional delegation, urging them to address the loophole at the federal level.
Rep. Ed Osienski (D-Newark), who’s sponsoring the bill, says there’s no reason to allow potentially dangerous people to get their hands on a gun due to a federal delay in processing a background check.
“We put in protections for Delawareans by using or requiring criminal background checks on many different things such as running daycares and other positions and nurses and stuff like that. So there’s no other background check requirement that has this loophole,” Osienski said.
92 percent of background checks are completed within the three-day timeframe in Delaware, according to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.
At least 18 other states have also extended the amount of time firearm dealers are required to wait while a background check is in progress.
A House committee will be the first to debate the bill.
