Democrat Rep. Michael Barbieri has introduced a measure in the Delaware House that could make self-defense much more difficult. HB 168 would require gun owners to place guns in a locked box, utilize a trigger-lock system or store them in a “location which a reasonable person would have believed to be secure from access.”
Under HB 168, if a prohibited person obtains a gun not stored within these guidelines, the owner would be held responsible, and could face fines of up to $1,150 and up to 6 months behind bars. If the gun is used in a crime, both of those penalties could double.
If a middle-of-the-night home invader wakes you, will you instantly remember your combination or where your key is hidden? If a gun is stored in a remote hiding place, could you get to it in time without alerting the intruder? No one should be forced to choose between self-defense and jail.
