05/26/2026
In today's Daily Sate News.
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Ethics applies to state legislators, as well.
Scott Becker is a resident of New Castle.
By Scott Becker
Rep. Sophie Phillips, D-Bear, recently wrote in an Opinion piece that government is a public trust and that there is an omission of meaningful ethics rules regarding federal legislation regarding crypto (“Ethics shouldn’t be optional in cryptocurrency,” May 6). Rep. Phillips may want to consider the ethics of her colleagues in the General Assembly before worrying about federal officials.
Senate Bill 300 would establish an onerous licensing scheme for Delaware gun dealers. While the details of SB 300 are not important here, what is important is who is sponsoring the legislation.
Among them is Rep. Stephanie T. Bolden, D-Wilmington, who is a co-sponsor. In 2025, Rep. Bolden filed a public officer financial disclosure, in which she stated that she was a board member of the Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence nonprofit. Its homepage shows the following mission statement: “Delaware Coalition Against Gun Violence works on enacting, protecting, and implementing gun safety laws in Delaware andnationwide.” This is not the first time a member of DECAGV who was also an elected official, has sponsored gun control legislation.
Former Rep. Paul Baumbach took the same action on House Bill 451, an assault weapons ban, in 2022.
Since 2022, DECAGV has received over $100,000 from the state, $43,000 of that from the grant-in-aid program, according to the Delaware Open Checkbook. In 2023, it received almost $21,000 to provide “Medical Services” and almost $47,000 for consulting. It is unclear what medical services were provided or why a gun control nonprofit would provide them. Moreover, in October 2022, DECAGV made a $3,000 contribution to both the House of Representatives Democrats and the Delaware Senate majority caucus’s campaign committee, for a total of $6,000. Prior to that, the largest contribution made was $500. Where did the $6,000 come from? The contribution was made prior to the 2022 general election and after the legislative session in which HB 451 was passed and signed into law.
DECAGV’s IRS 990 forms from 2022-24 all state that the organization’s mission or most significant activities are to: “Enact, Protect, and Implement Gun Safety Laws In Delaware and Nationwide.” Yet, on its grant-in-aid applications, DECAGV describes its mission statement as: “to end gun violence in Delaware through prevention education and advocacy.” Why is there a difference and why was it not questioned by the Joint Finance Committee?
It is clear that there are serious concerns with what our taxpayer funds are being used for, along with the ethics of our elected officials with respect to gun control legislation. It is unacceptable behavior, and the fact that General Assembly leaders allow it to occur is appalling. If Attorney General Kathy Jennings is unable, or unwilling, to investigate these issues, then the U.S. attorney for Delaware should.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at [email protected].
