![]() ![]() It was one of a number of gatherings in which gun rights advocates protested government overreach. In April, a few hundred people gathered on Legislative Mall for a Second Amendment Institute rally. It failed to make it out of a Senate committee in June. Senate Bill 163 - an act that “prohibits the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, receipt, possession, or transport of assault weapons in Delaware” - was among the most debated. “They have no place on the streets of our neighborhoods,” Gov. John Carney called for a ban on assault-style weapons. “If we have only 300 people join the conversation today, then hopefully those 300 talk to another 300 and that 300 talks to another 300 and so on as it keeps growing and growing and growing.” Days after the Parkland, Florida, high school shootings, Delaware Gov. “It starts with each one of us,” said Dover High senior Nadeem Boggerty. Here in Delaware and across the nation, students participated in planned walkouts in March to plea for changes. The legislature, reacting in large part to mass shootings in Las Vegas in October 2017 and at a Florida high school in February, took up numerous bills. *** On our opinion pages, gun control and rights were vigorously debated through the first half of the year. In October, the state announced it would be moving 330 inmates to Pennsylvania to reduce demands on Delaware prison staffers. In the last full fiscal year, it amounted to $31 million. A big challenge remaining is reducing overtime. ![]() Among the changes made were an increase in starting salaries for correctional officers from about $35,200 to $43,000 and funds for new equipment. John Carney’s first two years in office published last week, Geoff Klopp, president of the Correctional Officers Association of Delaware said there are 217 officer vacancies and a need for nearly 400 new officers. Meanwhile, correctional staffing and retention issues have remained hot topics. The other, Royal Downs, already pleaded guilty. Of two charged with rioting, assault, kidnapping and conspiracy, Pedro Chairez still awaits trial. 7, jury selection will begin for four of the remaining 13 inmates facing murder charges. The lawsuit cites inhumane conditions and mistreatment at the Smyrna prison. Attorney Stephen Hampton, who filed a lawsuit on behalf of inmates in October, said Gibbs committed suicide. He was also one of the 16 men facing murder charges. Kelly Gibbs, who had pleaded guilty to charges of riot, kidnapping and conspiracy, was found dead on Nov. A total of 18 inmates were charged with perpetrating assault, kidnapping and rioting during the uprising, and 16 of them accused were murdering Lt. A third inmate, Deric Forney, was acquitted. Of the other two, Jarreau Ayers was found guilty of assaulting officers and kidnapping. ![]() Dwayne Staats, one of three in the initial prison riot trial, was the inmate convicted for the murder of Lt. Rather, it was one that offered two continuously developing stories - the aftermath of the prison uprising and the debate over guns following mass shootings. Really, this has not been a year with one big story. Steven Floyd, the kidnapping of officers and counselor, and rioting Feb. It came at the conclusion of the first trial of inmates accused of the murder of Lt. “One guilty of murder” was the huge headline. Andrew West DOVER - In reviewing this year’s Delaware State News, the Nov. ![]()
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