Discrimination in any form or for any reason is deplorable and unacceptable in this modern day and age. Discrimination against a class of individuals, depriving them of God-given and constitutionally protected rights for political gain is downright despicable. But that is exactly what occurred when the majority of House and Senate Democrats conspired, aided and abetted by the Governor, to deprive young adults of their God-given and constitutionally protected right to defend themselves, their homes and their families through the passage of House Bill 451 while allowing other young adults already 18, 19, and 20 years of age to retain those very same rights.
Section 20 of the Delaware Bill of Rights clearly proclaims in no uncertain terms that “A person has the right to keep and bear arms for defense of self, family, home and State, and for hunting and recreation.” House Bill 451 clearly denies those rights to adult persons 18, 19 and 20 years of age and who had not reached their 18th birthday when the Governor signed the bill on June 30, 2022.
Today the Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association filed suit in the Delaware Court of Chancery seeking to vindicate those rights and to put an end to this invidious form of politically motivated age discrimination. Our suit seeks both injunctive and declaratory relief. DSSA was joined in this action by the Bridgeville Rifle and Pistol Club, and an individual adult member of both organizations.
DSSA President Jeffrey W. Hague said of this action, “DSSA has been protecting and defending the rights of Delaware’s hunters, sportsmen and women, and law-abiding gun owners since 1968. This is not the first time we have challenged unconstitutional and illegal actions of government officials in court, and it will not be the last. We promised our members and the people of Delaware that if HB 451 ever became law we would challenge that law in court and today we kept that promise.”
At the same time Governor Carney signed HB 451 into law he also signed into law Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 6 and House Bill 450 into law. SS#1 for SB 6 bans the private ownership of standard capacity magazines except for certain privileged individuals and HB 450 bans the manufacture, importation, sale, possession and ownership of a long list of rifles, handguns and shotguns. DSSA has already challenged those measures in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware in a separate federal action.
When asked about House Bill 451 and the other two bills Mr. Hague stated “We kept our promise to challenge the unconstitutional conduct of the Delaware General Assembly and we will continue to do so. House Bill 451, House Bill 450 and Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 6 are all blatantly unconstitutional. We are both duty and honor bound to protect the constitutional rights of our members and the people of Delaware, and we shall do so.”
A copy of the Complaint filed today in Delaware Chancery Court can be found here: