DELAWARE STATE SENATE

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SENATE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1

FOR

SENATE BILL NO. 228

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SEMIAUTOMATIC PISTOLS.

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

Section 1. Amend § 1465, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1465. Definitions related to assault weapons.

(6) “Copycat weapon” means any of the following:

c. A semiautomatic pistol that can accept a detachable magazine and has at least 1 of the following:

1. An Except as otherwise provided under paragraph (6)c.1.A. of this section, an ability to accept a detachable ammunition magazine that attaches at some location outside of the pistol grip.

A. Subject to paragraph (6)c.1.B. of this section, the characteristic detailed under paragraph (6)c.1. of this section does not apply when the characteristic is utilized in conjunction with a rimfire pistol that is used solely for the purposes of competitive shooting events or practice shooting in preparation for competitive shooting events.

B. Paragraph (6)c.1.A of this section applies only to competitive shooting events operated by state or nationally recognized competitive shooting organizations.

2. A threaded barrel capable of accepting a flash suppressor, forward pistol grip or silencer.

3. A shroud that is attached to, or partially or completely encircles, the barrel and that permits the shooter to fire the firearm without being burned, except a slide that encloses the barrel.

4. A second hand grip.

SYNOPSIS

This Act is a substitute for Senate Bill No. 228. This Act achieves the intent of Senate Bill No. 228 by providing an exception to the general prohibition against semiautomatic pistols that have the ability to accept detachable ammunition magazines that attach at some location other than the pistol grip. This exception permits such a characteristic in the limited circumstance of using a rimfire pistol for competitive shooting or for practice shooting in preparation for competitive shooting. The characteristic is still prohibited outright for any centerfire pistols.

Author: Senator Lawson