Buying a Firearm in Delaware
A plain-English guide to buying handguns, rifles and shotguns in Delaware, including identification, background checks, the Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit, online purchases, private transfers and nonresident transactions.
Dealer checks: 11 Del. C. § 1448A
Private transfers: 11 Del. C. § 1448B
Federal form: ATF Form 4473
What are you buying?
The process differs depending on the firearm and the transaction.
Pistol or Revolver
Delaware residents generally need a valid Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit before a handgun transfer unless an exemption applies.
Rifle
A purchaser must satisfy applicable federal and Delaware eligibility, background-check and firearm-legality requirements.
Shotgun
Federal dealer-transfer rules still apply, together with Delaware eligibility and firearm-specific requirements.
The basic firearm-purchase process
A firearm purchase from a federally licensed firearms dealer involves more than payment. Before a firearm can be transferred, the dealer must verify the buyer’s identity, complete required federal paperwork, determine whether the buyer is legally eligible, and comply with applicable Delaware law.
The firearm and any included magazine must be lawful for the buyer to acquire and possess.
The dealer verifies the identity and residence of the person receiving the firearm.
The buyer completes the federal Firearms Transaction Record and required eligibility questions.
The dealer follows the Delaware and federal process applicable to the transaction.
For a handgun, this generally includes a valid Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit unless an exemption applies.
The firearm may be delivered only when the transaction can lawfully proceed.
Paying for or ordering a firearm does not by itself mean the buyer may take possession. The actual transfer must satisfy the legal requirements in effect when the dealer delivers the firearm.
Buying a handgun in Delaware
Delaware’s Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit requirement applies to handgun purchases and transfers. Delaware State Police states that a Delaware resident purchasing a handgun must have a valid permit unless the person falls within an applicable exemption.
See the training, fingerprinting, exemptions and Delaware State Police application process.
Buying a rifle or shotgun
The Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit is a handgun-specific requirement. A rifle or shotgun purchase from a licensed dealer must still satisfy applicable federal transfer rules, buyer eligibility requirements and Delaware restrictions affecting particular firearms and configurations.
Check the configuration
Delaware separately regulates certain semiautomatic firearms and configurations.
State and federal rules can differ
A Delaware state-law exception does not necessarily remove an otherwise applicable federal dealer requirement.
Background checks in Delaware
Delaware law requires licensed dealers to conduct the state background-check process for covered dealer transactions. Delaware’s private-transfer statute also generally requires covered person-to-person transfers to be processed through a licensed firearms dealer, subject to statutory exceptions.
A Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit does not authorize a transfer that is otherwise prohibited under state or federal law.
What identification is needed?
A federally licensed dealer must establish the identity and residence of the person receiving the firearm using documentation that satisfies federal requirements. Additional documentation may be needed depending on the transaction.
Can I buy a firearm online?
A firearm may be purchased online, but interstate sales to ordinary consumers generally involve shipment to a federally licensed dealer who completes the transfer to the buyer under applicable federal and state law.
Private firearm sales in Delaware
Delaware generally requires covered firearm transfers between unlicensed persons to be processed through a licensed firearms dealer for the required background-check procedure. Section 1448B contains exceptions, so the circumstances of the transfer matter.
Nonresident purchases
Federal law treats interstate handgun and long-gun transactions differently. Because residency, firearm type and the laws of the states involved can change the answer, a nonresident buyer should confirm the transfer path with the dealer before purchasing.
About the site sponsor
Coastal Firearms
DelawareGunLaws.com is supported by Coastal Firearms, a Delaware firearms business focused on lawful transfers, responsible ownership, education and compliance.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to buy every firearm in Delaware?
The Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit is a handgun-specific requirement. Other state and federal requirements still apply to rifles and shotguns.
Do I need the handgun permit if I have a Delaware CCDW?
Delaware State Police states that a person holding a valid Delaware CCDW issued under 11 Del. C. § 1441 is not required to obtain the separate handgun purchaser permit.
Can I buy a firearm online?
Yes, but an interstate purchase generally must be transferred through a federally licensed dealer rather than shipped directly to an ordinary purchaser’s residence.
Official sources
DelawareGunLaws.com is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with the State of Delaware or any government agency. Firearm laws, regulations, court decisions and agency procedures can change. Verify current primary sources before relying on this information.
Private Firearm Transfers in Delaware
Next: person-to-person sales, statutory exceptions and when a licensed dealer is required.