Delaware Governor John Carney has signed the state’s Handgun Purchaser Licensing bill into law.
After years of consistent engagement led by organizations like Coalition for a Safer Delaware with the support of dedicated advocates on our team, a purchaser licensing bill, sometimes referred to as permit-to-purchase, passed the final hurdle in Delaware and has been signed into law by Governor John Carney. When enacted, the law will require those who seek to purchase a handgun, unless they have a valid Delaware concealed carry permit, to submit fingerprints, undergo a more thorough criminal background check, and complete safety training that includes live fire.
Delaware joins 10 other states plus Washington, D.C. that have passed Firearm Purchaser Licensing.
Permitting requirements increase accountability among both buyers and sellers and ensure all purchasers have undergone fingerprinting and an in-depth background check. Research shows that licensing can also have positive impacts across state lines reducing the likelihood of illegal transfers and firearms trafficking.
“Delaware’s new law stands as a model for states around the country to enact policies that will save lives,” says Jen Pauliukonis, MPH ‘22, Director of Policy and Programming at the Center “Firearm Purchaser Licensing is backed by research and takes a public health approach to combatting the epidemic of gun violence.”
