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Delaware Senate Democrats

Senate Bill 302

Bryan Townsend
Senate Bill 302

A longtime champion of common-sense gun safety, Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend successfully opened the door for victims of gun violence and their families to sue gunmakers and gun dealers in state court when their conduct knowingly or recklessly endangers the safety and health of Delawareans.

Prior to the passage of Senate Bill 302, Delaware law gave the firearm industry such near-total immunity from liability that a Delaware Superior Court judge cited the statute as the sole reason for dismissing a lawsuit against a Christiana firearms dealer that had been filed by the family of a 19-year old innocent bystander who was gunned down in a 2016 drive-by shooting.

According to the lawsuit, an employee of Cabela’s sold the .40-caliber pistol used in the shooting to a woman who was making a straw purchase on behalf of her boyfriend, a convicted felon who orchestrated the sale over the phone from outside the store. The gun was later sold on the criminal market to two underage teenagers who used the illegally purchased weapon to indiscriminately fire on by-standers in Wilmington, killing Keshall “KeKe” Anderson, the mother of a 6-month-old boy.

SB 302, also known as the Keshall “Keke” Anderson Safe Firearm Sales Act, now allows someone harmed by the gun industry’s recklessness or negligence to sue for damages and other relief, while permitting the Delaware Department of Justice to seek an injunction that would prohibit a member of the gun industry from continuing to engage in those actions.

Passed as part of an historic gun safety package, SB 302 was later upheld by a federal judge.

Legislative Highlights


Senate Bill 1 (S)


Hundreds of Delaware families have been able to avoid eviction and remain in their homes thanks to legislation passed by Senate Majority Leader Bryan Townsend. Passed with bipartisan support, Senate Bill 1 (S) gave thousands of Delaware renters free legal […]

Senate Bill 1 (S)

Senate Bill 10


Senate Townsend worked with many dedicated advocates to pass Senate Bill 10, the “Richard ‘Mouse’ Smith Compassionate Release Act.” In honor of the late Mouse Smith — an exceptional Delaware civil rights activist who passed earlier this year — Senate […]

Senate Bill 5


While chairing the Senate Elections & Government Affairs Committee, Sen. Gay passed legislation that made voter registration a faster and easier process for thousands of Delawareans. Senate Bill 5 allowed all applications for a driver’s license in Delaware to also […]

Senate Bill 5

Senate Bill 12


Health insurance delays can place an unfair burden on patients and providers alike, creating unnecessary stress and complications for everyone. To create and maintain a more patient-centered approach, Senator Townsend introduced pre-authorization reform legislation. Receiving unanimous bipartisan support in both […]

Senate Bill 12