DOVER, Del. - An amendment has been proposed for Delaware's "permit to purchase" bill that would make changes to the length of a handgun purchase permit's validity and the availability of vouchers for a training course.
The current bill, if passed, would require Delawareans to complete a firearms training course and obtain a permit before buying a handgun in the state.
The amendment changes the length of time a qualified permit would be valid from one to two years. Originally, the permit allowed a holder 180 days to purchase a handgun.
The amendment also removes the firearms training course voucher program, which the original bill required to be developed by the Department of Safety and Homeland Security in order to provide low-income residents assistance to cover the costs of the required course.
The bill was initially proposed during the 2023 legislative session and is sponsored by a slew of upstate representatives and senators. Known officially as Substitute 1 for Senate Bill 2, it passed the Senate in May and was not voted on in the House before the end of the first session of the 152nd General Assembly.
People both in favor and opposed to the bill have been vocal in the past year, with many attending past hearings to offer public comment. Some have said the additional time needed to receive a permit could a life-saving delay for those suffering through a mental health crisis. Those opposed, like the Delaware State Sportsmen's Association, have seen it as a way for legislators to ignore or avoid taking on the causes of violent crime by not fully prosecuting offenders and have threatened to take the bill to court.
The Delaware General Assembly kicks off this year's legislative session on Jan. 9.