​New Delaware Law Requires Permit to Buy Handguns

In breaking news, lawmakers in Delaware have announced the passage of a new piece of gun control legislation. The new law requires anyone who wants to purchase a handgun to first acquire a permit from the state. It’s a tough loss for gun owners living in Delaware. Here’s the full story.

Delaware Law Requires Permit to Buy Handguns

On May 16, 2024, Delaware Governor John Carney signed Senate Bill 2 (SB 2) into law. The bill is one of the most significant pieces of statewide gun control legislation to become law during the 2024 legislative session anywhere in the country.

SB 2 requires anyone who wants to buy a handgun in Delaware to first receive a state permit. To receive a permit, applicants must submit their fingerprints to the state and pass a firearms training course. While the permit itself doesn’t cost any money, the training and fingerprinting processes will.

The law also prohibits gun stores from selling handguns to anyone without a valid state-issued permit.

Police officers, both active and retired, are exempt from the rule, as are Delaware concealed carry permit holders.

With the passage of this new law, Delaware becomes the 12th state to require a permit to purchase a handgun. California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, and Rhode Island currently have similar laws on the books.

Delaware already has some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Over the last seven years, state lawmakers have banned so-called “assault weapons,” “high-capacity magazines,” and bump stocks, along with implementing new statewide red flag laws.

With the passage of SB 2, Delaware is continuing to build on that trend. For one, the law enacts new legal hoops for prospective gun owners to jump through just to obtain a handgun. The law also creates a backdoor gun registry.

The Big Picture

This law isn’t just the result of grassroots community organizing. It’s the consequence of years of work by national gun control organizations.

“We’ve been working with advocates and legislators in Delaware for years to pass this critical gun safety measure, and I’m thankful for their commitment to getting this done,” said Sean Holihan. Holihan is the State Legislative Director of Giffords, one of the largest gun control organizations in the country.

“More states should follow Delaware’s lead,” he added.

With all due respect to Mr. Holihan, I strongly disagree.