DOVER, Del.- After extensive deliberation, the Delaware House of Representatives has approved firearm permit legislation, passing the bill with four amendments.
Under the proposed law, Senate Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 2, Delawareans would need to complete an approved training course within five years before they can purchase a handgun. Delaware House Majority Leader Melissa Minor-Brown says active and retired police and anyone else permitted to carry a concealed deadly weapon would be exempt from the permit requirement.
“Today, we took a huge step in making Delaware a safer and more responsible state by passing SB 2(S),” said Rep. Minor-Brown.
A House amendment added to the bill would extend the length of time a permit is valid and allow local law enforcement agencies to ensure the surrender or removal of handguns purchased with a revoked permit.
Another House amendment added to the bill would clarify what details the State Bureau of Identification (SBI) could keep regarding permit applications. It would also exclude application and permit information from being subject to the Freedom of Information Act.
House Republicans proposed several other amendments, however, the majority of these failed.
A similar qualification law was passed in neighboring Maryland in 2016, but that law is now facing repeal following judicial scrutiny. A Federal Appeals court ruled the mandatory training course and license requirements to purchase a handgun in Maryland were unconstitutional.
SB 2 (S), which passed with House amendments 2, 6, 10, and 11, heads to the Senate for final consideration.
