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House updates weapons code to add projectile-weapon definition; bill passes
Summary
Lawmakers modified Title 7 to include a definition of 'projectile weapon'—covering bows, crossbows and certain air guns—aligning definitions across titles. House Bill 4 passed with the constitutional majority after debate and clarifying questions about included devices.
House Bill 4, a statutory cleanup that adds a definition of "projectile weapon" to Title 7 and aligns that title with an existing definition in Title 11, passed the Delaware House after floor discussion over what the definition includes.
Sponsor Representative David Spiegelman described the measure as an update to bring Title 7 into line with the definition used in Title 11 and said the change "doesn't really make any policy changes" but clarifies which devices are covered.
Drafting attorney Mark Catrona explained the definition on the floor: "A bow, a crossbow, an air bow, a weapon designed to discharge or project an arrow, crossbow bolt or spear, and an air gun that discharges or projects a pellet, slug, or bullet larger than 0.177 caliber." The floor exchanged several questions about whether certain tools—staple guns, nail guns or construction staplers—would fall under the definition. The sponsor and drafting attorney confirmed common construction tools are not affected, and standard staplers used in construction would not be treated as firearms under Title 11.
Nut graf: Supporters argued the change harmonizes code language and preserves existing hunting and wildlife protections; critics asked for clearer distinctions between categories of devices. The bill's sponsors emphasized that criminal prohibitions that apply to firearms would similarly apply to listed projectile weapons in Title 7 contexts, such as prohibitions on taking game at night or discharging from a roadway.
The House recorded a roll call after debate; the bill passed with the required constitutional majority and 36 members voting yes and five members absent.
Ending: The law is a statutory alignment; the sponsor said it was intended to avoid gaps and to maintain existing prohibitions on unlawful use of weapons when projectile devices are involved.
