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Permit to Purchase vs. Concealed Carry in Delaware: Requirements And What You Need to Know


Delaware permit to purchase fake permission slip.
Satirical take on the situation - the State of Delaware's Department of Gun Owner Obstacle Engineering is now requiring that you ask their permission to own a handgun.

Your God given right to bear arms is now at Delaware's whim. If you want to purchase a handgun in Delaware you now need to ask for permission from the State of Delaware.


🔎 Quick Take

In 2024, Delaware passed a new law requiring individuals to get a permit before buying a handgun. This permit is in addition to the existing requirements to buy a gun in Delaware. The idea behind the law is to improve public safety—but in practice, it adds more delays, expenses, and paperwork for people who follow the law, while doing little to stop people who don’t.


📋 What the Permit To Purchase Law Requires

To purchase a handgun in Delaware (once the law takes effect), you’ll need to:

  • ✅ Complete a firearms training course with live-fire (within 5 years)

  • ✅ Get fingerprinted by the State Bureau of Identification (SBI)

  • ✅ Submit a permit application (30-day processing window)

  • ✅ Be 21 years or older

  • ✅ Your permit will be valid for 2 years

Exemptions apply for:

  • Anyone with a valid Delaware Concealed Deadly Weapon (CDW) permit

  • Active or retired law enforcement officers

    For full details about the bill including exemptions check out the top 10 things you need to know about Delaware's Permit to Purchase a Firearm Law.

📊 Quick Comparison: Permit to Purchase vs CDW Permit

Requirement

Permit to Purchase Handgun

Concealed Deadly Weapon (CDW) License

Minimum Age

21

18

Residency Requirement

Yes

Yes

Firearms Training

Yes (live-fire required)

Yes (live-fire required)

Fingerprinting

Yes

Yes

Background Check

Yes

Yes

Character References

No

Yes – 5 references from same county

Public Notice in Newspaper

No

Yes – 10 days prior to applying

Application Fee

No

Yes – $65

Validity Period

2 years

3 years (initial), 5 years (renewal)

Processing Time

Up to 30 days

Varies (court discretion)

Exemptions

CDW holders, law enforcement

N/A

Allows Concealed Carry

❌ No

✅ Yes

Allows Magazines >17 Rounds

❌ No

✅ Yes

🧠 Why This Law Matters

🚨 It Won’t Stop Criminals

People committing crimes with guns aren’t taking safety courses or waiting 30 days for permits. This law only affects the people who obey the law—not the ones breaking it.


🧱 It Adds More Hurdles for Law-Abiding Citizens

Every extra step—fingerprinting, applications, training—costs time and money. It creates roadblocks for regular people who want to protect themselves and their families.


💰 It’s Funded by You

When these laws are challenged in court, the state defends them using your tax dollars. Whether the law is upheld or struck down years later, gun owners and taxpayers both lose.


🧾 Changes Made Before It Passed

Originally, the bill included financial aid for low-income residents to help pay for training. That was cut to reduce the cost to the state—meaning lower-income folks got left behind, even though they often have the most need for self-defense tools.


✅ What You Can Do: Get a CDW Permit

If you’re a Delaware resident and considering buying a handgun, your best move is to get your Concealed Deadly Weapon (CDW) permit.

It gives you:

  • ✔️ The ability to carry your handgun concealed

  • ✔️ An exemption from the new permit-to-purchase law

  • ✔️ The legal ability to own magazines over 17 rounds, which are otherwise banned in Delaware


CDW Permit Process:

  • Complete certified training (includes live-fire)

  • Get fingerprinted

  • Gather 5 in-county references

  • Publish a legal notice in a newspaper

  • Submit your application to the Prothonotary’s Office


It’s a bit of work, but well worth it for your rights and peace of mind. We have a whole article about how to get your concealed carry permit in Delaware.


📌 Final Thoughts

This new permit-to-purchase law adds more bureaucracy for responsible gun owners—without addressing the real problems. It’s a burden that won’t stop criminals, won’t improve safety, and forces you to fund it whether you agree with it or not.

🗂️ Be proactive:

  • Learn your rights

  • Get your CDW permit

  • Encourage others to do the same

  • Share this article with a friend


This post is meant to be educational and a touch satirical. This article is not intended to be legal advice.

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