Delaware: Senate Judiciary Passes Maryland-Style Handgun Licensing Bill

On Wednesday, the Senate Judiciary Committee favorably passed Senate Bill 2, to impose a Maryland-style “handgun qualified purchase card” and a handgun transfer registry. It now goes to the full Senate for further consideration. Please contact your state senator and ask them to OPPOSE SB 2.

Senate Bill 2 requires citizens to obtain a deceptively named “handgun qualified purchaser permit” to purchase or receive a handgun, with an exemption for carry permit holders. To obtain a permit, an applicant is required to, at their own expense, have taken approved training and to submit fingerprints, though the bill does create a voucher system for low-income individuals to cover the cost of training. The State Bureau of Investigation is allowed up to 30 days to issue a permit. Because permits are valid for only 180 days and training is only accepted if taken within the past five years, this creates recurring costs, delay, and hassle for citizens to maintain the ability to exercise their Second Amendment right to obtain a handgun. In addition, the bill also creates a registry of all handgun transfers.

Again, please contact your state senator and ask them to OPPOSE SB 2.