Pennsylvania
With gun safety in Court, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania AGs stand for common sense – State of Delaware News
PHILADEPHIA — The Attorneys General of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania reiterated their support for common sense gun safety laws today as attorneys for the States of Delaware and New Jersey delivered oral arguments defending landmark gun safety legislation.
In Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association v. Delaware Department of Safety & Homeland Security, currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings is defending restrictions on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines (LCMs) against a challenge by extremist NRA-affiliated plaintiffs.
“The idea that the Founders envisioned anything like an AR-15 when they drafted the Constitution is a delusion,” said Attorney General Jennings. “These guns originated as weapons of war, were marketed based on their military pedigree, and have emerged as the clear weapon of choice for mass shooters at a time when guns are the leading cause of death for children in our country. The gun lobby’s continuing pursuit of blood money is appalling and flat-out wrong on the merits. We are proud to defend these laws.”
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, who led an amicus curiae brief supporting the Delaware statutes, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry also spoke in strong support of gun safety.
“I stand united with the Attorneys General of every state in the Third Circuit, and with 18 States across the country, because this madness has to stop,” said Attorney General Platkin. “There is no sane reason why ordinary citizens must arm themselves with the weapons of war—assault weapons and large capacity magazines—at issue in this case today. We urge the Third Circuit to affirm the district court’s conclusion that these commonsense restrictions are constitutional and are consistent with the Second Amendment. If Delaware’s laws can be struck down, then the public safety of all other states, including New Jersey, will be at risk.”
“Every tragic incident of gun violence across the country and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania means another family is left heartbroken and picking up the pieces from senseless violence,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said. “I stand proudly next to partners in Delaware and New Jersey as leaders in stating our case that the line has to be drawn between maintaining freedoms essential to Pennsylvanians and our obligations as chief law enforcer to protect children, families, and communities from further harm.”
The Delaware General Assembly passed the assault weapon and LCM restrictions as a package of gun safety legislation signed in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, and left 17 others injured. The gun lobby’s challenge to the legislation was originally filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, where it was rejected by Judge Richard Andrews. The gun lobby subsequently appealed the case to the Third Circuit.
Delaware and the states argue in their submissions to the court that the District Court was correct in its assessment that assault weapons and high-capacity magazines represent unprecedented societal concerns and dramatic technological changes from the single-shot, muzzle-loading, flintlock firearms of the 18th and 19th centuries; that Delaware’s statutes are well within the country’s tradition of reasonable firearm regulations; and that LCMs do not meet the definition of “arms” in the Second Amendment.
In addition to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the states’ amicus brief for DSSA v. DDSHS was joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
PHILADEPHIA — The Attorneys General of Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania reiterated their support for common sense gun safety laws today as attorneys for the States of Delaware and New Jersey delivered oral arguments defending landmark gun safety legislation.
In Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association v. Delaware Department of Safety & Homeland Security, currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings is defending restrictions on assault weapons and large-capacity magazines (LCMs) against a challenge by extremist NRA-affiliated plaintiffs.
“The idea that the Founders envisioned anything like an AR-15 when they drafted the Constitution is a delusion,” said Attorney General Jennings. “These guns originated as weapons of war, were marketed based on their military pedigree, and have emerged as the clear weapon of choice for mass shooters at a time when guns are the leading cause of death for children in our country. The gun lobby’s continuing pursuit of blood money is appalling and flat-out wrong on the merits. We are proud to defend these laws.”
New Jersey Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin, who led an amicus curiae brief supporting the Delaware statutes, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry also spoke in strong support of gun safety.
“I stand united with the Attorneys General of every state in the Third Circuit, and with 18 States across the country, because this madness has to stop,” said Attorney General Platkin. “There is no sane reason why ordinary citizens must arm themselves with the weapons of war—assault weapons and large capacity magazines—at issue in this case today. We urge the Third Circuit to affirm the district court’s conclusion that these commonsense restrictions are constitutional and are consistent with the Second Amendment. If Delaware’s laws can be struck down, then the public safety of all other states, including New Jersey, will be at risk.”
“Every tragic incident of gun violence across the country and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania means another family is left heartbroken and picking up the pieces from senseless violence,” Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said. “I stand proudly next to partners in Delaware and New Jersey as leaders in stating our case that the line has to be drawn between maintaining freedoms essential to Pennsylvanians and our obligations as chief law enforcer to protect children, families, and communities from further harm.”
The Delaware General Assembly passed the assault weapon and LCM restrictions as a package of gun safety legislation signed in the wake of the Uvalde school shooting, which claimed the lives of 19 children and two teachers, and left 17 others injured. The gun lobby’s challenge to the legislation was originally filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, where it was rejected by Judge Richard Andrews. The gun lobby subsequently appealed the case to the Third Circuit.
Delaware and the states argue in their submissions to the court that the District Court was correct in its assessment that assault weapons and high-capacity magazines represent unprecedented societal concerns and dramatic technological changes from the single-shot, muzzle-loading, flintlock firearms of the 18th and 19th centuries; that Delaware’s statutes are well within the country’s tradition of reasonable firearm regulations; and that LCMs do not meet the definition of “arms” in the Second Amendment.
In addition to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the states’ amicus brief for DSSA v. DDSHS was joined by the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.
Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.
Here you can subscribe to future news updates.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Gov Josh Shapiro’s neighbor accuses him of stealing land in ‘outrageous abuse of power’
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s neighbors are suing the Democrat, accusing him of stealing a slice of their land to erect an eight-foot-high security fence around his private residence in an “outrageous abuse of power.”
The neighbors, Jeremy and Simone Mock, are currently duking it out with the governor in court over a 2,900 square foot parcel of land located between their two homes in Abington, Montgomery County, court papers show.
The Mocks alleged in a lawsuit filed last month that Shapiro and his wife, Lori, unlawfully seized the stretch of land after initial negotiations to buy it from them went up in flames.
Shapiro claimed in a countersuit that he owns the disputed land due, citing an “adverse possession” loophole that makes it his because he has maintained the sliver of property for decades.
The land-grab tit-for-tat kicked off last year when the Shapiros first sought to erect the huge fence and upgrade security following an arson attack on the governor’s official residence in Harrisburg while they were all sleeping inside on April 13.
Shapiro initially offered to pay the Mocks for the 2,900-square-foot section of land, which he for decades had believed was his, to be able to build the fence, the suit said.
The negotiations, however, fell through when the neighbors couldn’t agree on a price.
The Mocks allege that’s when Shapiro and his wife unlawfully claimed ownership of the property — even planting trees and having State Troopers stationed there.
“What followed was an outrageous abuse of power by the sitting Governor of Pennsylvania,” the Mocks’ lawsuit argues.
“To begin, the Shapiros suddenly claimed, without evidence, they owned the Mock Property through ‘adverse possession’ despite their previous acknowledgments that the Mock Property was owned by no one other than the Mocks and despite having never been awarded the Mock Property through adverse possession by a court,” the court filing states.
The law allows for an occupant to legally acquire the title of someone else’s property if they’ve occupied the area for over 21 years.
The Shapiros purchased their home in 2003 and long believed the disputed 2,900 square foot section of land was part of their property, meaning they had maintained it for more than the required 21 years, their countersuit claims.
As the issue continues to play out in court, Shapiro’s office suggested the entire saga was a political stunt.
“The Governor looks forward to a swift resolution and will not be bullied by anyone trying to score cheap political points, especially at the expense of his family’s safety and wellbeing,” his office told NBC when the dueling suits were filed.
The funeral arrangements for Corporal Timothy O’Connor, who was shot and killed in Chester County on Sunday, have been announced.
The viewing for O’Connor will be Tuesday, March 17, from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Church located at 338 Manor Avenue in Downingtown, Pa., according to the Parkesburg Police Department.
The funeral will be held at the same location on Wednesday, March 18, at 11 a.m., police said.
O’Connor was shot and killed during a traffic stop in Honey Brook on Sunday night. The suspect, Jesse Nathan Elks, took his own life after shooting O’Connor.
O’Connor was a 15-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police who leaves behind a wife, Casey, and a 6-year-old daughter, according to police.
Pennsylvania State Police Pennsylvania State Police
Crews battle blaze on salvage barge in Delaware bay
Crews battled a blaze on a salvage barge in the Delaware Bay Tuesday morning. No injuries were reported. 3/10/26
Delaware, Pennsylvania, and federal agencies have been responding to a barge fire in the Delaware Bay.
The barge, which is carrying salvage metal, is being moved to shallow water so it can be secured, allowing on-scene responders to extinguish the fire and complete salvage operations, according to a March 10 statement from the Delaware Emergency Management Agency.
No injuries have been reported as of 1:15 p.m.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is on scene to perform air monitoring, the statement said.
Responding agencies include the Wilmington Fire Department, Good Will, Leipsic Volunteer, Bowers and South Bowers fire companies. Also there are Delaware State Police, DNREC, New Castle County Office of Emergency Management, Kent County Department of Public Safety, the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Delaware Bay.
The Philadelphia Fire Department was enroute.
This is a developing story. Check back with delawareonline.com for more information.
Send tips or story ideas to Esteban Parra at (302) 324-2299 or eparra@delawareonline.com.
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