Background checks and handgun qualified purchaser permit required for sales of firearms [For application of this section, see 84 Del. Laws, c. 259, § 5] [Effective until fulfillment of the contingency in 85 Del. Laws, c. 371, § 3.]
Del. Code tit. 11, § 1448A
in effect(a) (1) A licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer may not sell, transfer, or deliver from inventory any firearm to any other person, other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector, without conducting a background check by the State Bureau of Identification, through the Firearm Transaction Approval Program under subchapter VI of Chapter 85 of this title, to determine whether the transfer of a firearm to any person who is not licensed under 18 U.S.C. § 923 would be in violation of federal or state law.
(2) A transferor may not sell, transfer, or deliver from inventory a handgun to any other person, other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector, unless the buyer or transferee has a valid handgun qualified purchaser permit issued by the State Bureau of Identification under § 1448D of this title.
(3) For the purposes of this section:
a. “Handgun” means a pistol, revolver, or other firearm designed to be readily capable of being fired when held in 1 hand.
b. “Transferor” means a licensed dealer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed importer, or employee thereof, or any other person who sells, transfers or delivers a firearm.
(b) A licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer may not sell, transfer, or deliver from inventory any firearm to any other person, other than a licensed importer, licensed manufacturer, licensed dealer, or licensed collector, unless and until being informed that it may “proceed” with the sale, transfer, or delivery from inventory of a firearm by the State Bureau of Identification, through the Firearm Transaction Approval Program under subchapter VI of Chapter 85 of this title, following a request for a background check under subsection (a) of this section or 25 days have elapsed from the date of the request for a background check and a denial has not occurred.
(c) For purposes of this section, “firearm” means as defined in § 8571 of this title.
(d) [Repealed.]
(e) This section does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Any firearm, including any firearm with a matchlock, flintlock, percussion cap, or similar type of ignition system manufactured in or before 1898.
(2) Any replica of any firearm described in paragraph (e)(1) of this section if the replica meets 1 of the following:
a. Is not designed or redesigned to use rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition.
b. Uses rimfire or conventional centerfire fixed ammunition which is no longer manufactured in the United States and which is not readily available in the ordinary channels of commercial trade.
(3) Any shotgun, which is defined as a firearm designed or intended to be fired from the shoulder and designed or made to fire through a smooth bore either a number of ball shot or a single projectile for each single pull of the trigger.
(4) The return, by a licensed pawnbroker, of a firearm to the person from whom it was received.
(5) Transactions in which the potential buyer or transferee holds a valid concealed deadly weapons license under §§ 1441, 1441A, and 1441B of this title.
(6) Transactions involving a “law-enforcement officer” as defined by § 222 of this title, which include transactions by a “law-enforcement agency,” as defined under § 8584 of this title, for firearms to be used by law-enforcement officers employed by the law-enforcement agency in the performance of the law-enforcement officers’ official duties.
(7) Transactions in which the prospective buyer is a “qualified constable agency representative” , as defined by § 1448D of this title purchasing on behalf of a “constable” , as defined by § 1448D of this title.
(f) A transferor who wilfully and intentionally requests a background check from the State Bureau of Identification, through the Firearm Transaction Approval Program under subchapter VI of Chapter 85 of this title, for any purpose other than compliance with subsection (a) of this section, or § 1441(a)(1) or § 1448B(a) of this title, or wilfully and intentionally disseminates any information from the background check to any person other than the subject of such information or discloses to any person the unique identification number is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction for all offenses under this subsection.
(g) Any person who, in connection with the purchase, transfer, or attempted purchase or transfer of a firearm pursuant to subsection (a) of this section or § 1448B(a) of this title, wilfully and intentionally makes any materially false oral or written statement or wilfully and intentionally furnishes or exhibits any false identification intended or likely to deceive the licensee is guilty of a class G felony.
(h) A transferor who wilfully and intentionally sells or delivers a firearm in violation of this section is guilty of a class A misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense by an individual is a class G felony. The Superior Court has exclusive jurisdiction for all offenses under this subsection.
(i) The SBI shall provide to the judiciary committees of the Senate and House of Representatives an annual report including the number of inquiries made under this section and § 1448B of this title for the prior calendar year. The report must include the number of inquiries received from licensees, the number of inquiries resulting in a determination that the potential buyer or transferee was prohibited from receipt or possession of a firearm under § 1448 of this title or federal law, and the estimated costs of administering the Firearm Transaction Approval Program under subchapter VI of Chapter 85 of this title.
(j) Notwithstanding Chapter 89 of this title, Chapter 10 of Title 29, and other laws of this State, the SBI shall release records and data required by this section and by § 1448B of this title. The SBI may not release or disclose criminal records or data except as specified in this section and in § 1448B of this title.
(k) Records, data, information, or reports containing the name, address, date of birth, or other identifying data of either the transferor or transferee or which contain the make, model, caliber, serial number, or other identifying data of any firearm which are required, authorized, or maintained under this section, § 1448B of this title, by Chapter 9 of Title 24, or by Chapter 9B of Title 24, are not subject to disclosure or release under the Freedom of Information Act, Chapter 100 of Title 29.
( l ) Relief from Disabilities Program. —
A person who is subject to the disabilities of 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(4) and (g)(4) or of § 1448(a)(2) of this title, except a person subject to an order for relinquishment under § 1448C(d)(1) of this title, because of an adjudication or commitment under the laws of this State may petition for relief from a firearms or projectile weapons prohibition from the Relief from Disabilities Board. The Relief from Disabilities Board shall be comprised of 3 members, with the chairperson appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Secretary of Safety and Homeland Security, and 2 members appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services, 1 of whom shall be a licensed psychiatrist.
(1) The Board shall consider the petition for relief in accordance with all of the following:
a. The Board shall give the petitioner the opportunity to present evidence to the Board in a closed and confidential hearing on the record.
b. The Board shall maintain a record of the hearing for purposes of appellate review.
(2) In determining whether to grant relief, the Board shall consider evidence regarding all of the following:
a. The circumstances regarding the firearms or projectile weapons disabilities pursuant to § 1448(a)(2) of this title or 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(4) and (g)(4).
b. The petitioner’s record, which must include, at a minimum, the petitioner’s mental health record, including a certificate of a medical doctor or psychiatrist licensed in this State that the person is no longer suffering from a mental disorder which interferes or handicaps the person from handling deadly weapons.
c. Criminal history records.
d. The petitioner’s reputation as evidenced through character witness statements, testimony, or other character evidence.
(3) The Board shall have the authority to require that the petitioner undergo a clinical evaluation and risk assessment, which it may also consider as evidence in determining whether to approve or deny the petition for relief.
(4) After a hearing on the record, the Board shall grant relief if it finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, all of the following apply:
a. The petitioner will not be likely to act in a manner dangerous to public safety.
b. Granting the relief will not be contrary to the public interest.
(5) The Board shall issue its decision in writing explaining the reasons for a denial or grant of relief.
(6) Any person whose petition for relief has been denied by the Relief from Disabilities Board has a right to a de novo judicial review in the Superior Court. The Superior Court shall consider the record of the Board hearing on the petition for relief, the decision of the Board, and, at the Court’s discretion, any additional evidence it deems necessary to conduct its review.
(7) On notice that a petition for relief has been granted, the Department of Safety and Homeland Security shall, as soon as practicable, do both of the following:
a. Cause the petitioner’s record to be updated, corrected, modified, or removed from any database maintained and made available to NICS and SBI to reflect that the petitioner is no longer subject to a firearms or projectile weapons prohibition as it relates to § 1448(a)(2) of this title or 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(4) and (g)(4).
b. Notify the Attorney General of the United States and the Attorney General of this State that the petitioner is no longer subject to a firearms or projectile weapons prohibition under § 1448(a)(2) of this title or 18 U.S.C. § 922(d)(4) and (g)(4).
(m) The SBI shall adopt regulations, consistent with federal law, relating to compliance with NICS, including issues relating to the transmission of data, the transfer of existing data in the existing state criminal background check database, and the relief from disabilities process under subsection ( l ) of this section. In preparing such regulations, the SBI shall consult with the Department of Health and Social Services, the courts, the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, the Department of State, and such other entities as may be necessary or advisable. Regulations adopted under this section must include provisions to ensure the identity, confidentiality, and security of all records and data provided under this section.
Source: DE Code (Official Site)URL: https://delcode.delaware.gov/title11/c005/sc07/index.htmlFetched: 10/4/2026