Delaware Gun Law Updates
Track enacted Delaware firearm laws, implementation dates, major court decisions, pending litigation, and election-related developments affecting firearm owners, purchasers, dealers, and transfers.
What changed most recently?
Delaware lawsuit against Glock
Delaware alleges certain Glock pistols can be illegally converted to automatic fire and seeks court remedies. Filing the complaint did not itself prohibit civilian Glock sales.
Supreme Court rifle-ban cases
Governor Meyer joined an amicus brief concerning semiautomatic rifle restrictions. Oral arguments in Viramontes and Grant are scheduled for December 2, 2026.
Delaware legislative composition
Reported results indicate 30 Democrats and 11 Republicans in the state House and a 15–6 Democratic majority in the Senate. Elections do not themselves change firearm statutes.
HB 141 w/ HA 1
Signed July 23, 2026. Creates the Firearm Responsibilities Notice framework. House Amendment 1 changed the effective-date trigger to publication in the Register of Regulations of notice that the final form is ready.
SS 1 for SB 300
Signed September 3, 2026. Creates a new Chapter 9B state firearm-dealer licensing framework with implementation phased in beginning by July 1, 2028.
HB 418
Revises Delaware’s untraceable-firearm law and creates a compliance path for qualifying previously possessed unserialized firearms and unfinished frames or receivers.
DSHS v. Birney
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed the Superior Court. The challenged Delaware under-21 restrictions remain enforceable, subject to statutory exceptions.
HS 1 for HB 427
Changes direct-supervision rules for qualifying 16- and 17-year-olds engaged in target practice or hunting after completing hunter education and satisfying the statute’s other conditions.
HB 342
Expands Delaware’s prohibited-person law to certain qualifying domestic-violence protection orders issued by another state or territory.
Delaware files lawsuit against Glock over illegal conversion devices
On October 22, 2026, Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings announced a civil lawsuit against Glock. The State alleges that certain Glock pistols can be converted into fully automatic weapons using illegal conversion devices, sometimes called “switches,” and seeks court-ordered remedies concerning those products.
These are the State’s allegations, not findings that a court has established. Glock may contest the allegations and requested remedies. The legal issues include the manufacturer’s potential liability for unlawful modifications performed by third parties.
The filing of a complaint does not itself enact a Glock sales ban or change existing possession rules. Any future injunction or judgment must be evaluated according to its precise terms and effective date. Illegal machine-gun conversion devices are already restricted under applicable law.
Supreme Court to hear consolidated challenges involving semiautomatic rifles
Governor Matt Meyer announced on October 28 that he joined other governors in an amicus brief supporting state and local restrictions on assault weapons in Viramontes v. Cook County and Grant v. Higgins. An amicus brief presents a nonparty’s legal position; it is not a court ruling.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s official calendar schedules consolidated oral arguments for December 2, 2026. The cases could affect constitutional analysis of restrictions on AR-15-platform and similar semiautomatic rifles, but the outcome and breadth of any decision remain unknown.
The upcoming oral argument does not suspend Delaware firearm restrictions. Existing law remains in place unless modified by legislation or an operative court order. The decision will require a separate update once issued.
Delaware governor’s announcement → • Official Supreme Court argument calendar →
What the 2026 election means for Delaware gun law
Post-election reporting indicates Democrats are set to hold 30 of the 41 Delaware House seats and 15 of the 21 Delaware Senate seats. These are reported legislative totals; Delaware’s Department of Elections still labels the November 3 results unofficial as of this update.
Legislative majorities affect committee leadership and the consideration of future firearm bills. They do not automatically amend existing law, invalidate permits, prohibit ownership of previously lawful firearms, or decide pending court cases. Future proposals must follow the required legislative process and remain subject to constitutional review.
Separate election results and possible legislative agendas from enacted legal requirements. This page will identify any future firearm bill by bill number, enactment status, and effective date rather than treating a political proposal as current law.
Delaware Department of Elections — unofficial results → • State Chamber legislative recap →
85 Del. Laws, c. 371
HB 141 w/ HA 1 — Firearm Responsibilities Notice
HB 141 directs the Delaware Department of Safety and Homeland Security to develop a Firearm Responsibilities Notice for firearm purchasers. Covered licensed importers, manufacturers and dealers must provide the notice in covered transactions, and the amended bill requires an acknowledgement form associated with receipt of the notice.
The law also applies when a licensed dealer facilitates a background check for a sale between unlicensed persons and requires specified dealer record retention.
House Amendment 1 changed the effective date. The Act becomes effective when DSHS publishes notice in the Register of Regulations that the final Firearm Responsibilities Notice has been promulgated. Before finalization, DSHS must publish a proposed form and provide a means for public comment.
The General Assembly’s parent HB 141 page still contains synopsis language referring to a 180-day delay, but the adopted House Amendment 1 controls the amended effective-date language. Check the Register of Regulations and DSHS before treating the operational requirement as active.
85 Del. Laws, c. 467
SS 1 for SB 300 — State Firearm Dealer Licensing
Senate Substitute 1 for SB 300 is enacted law. It creates a new state firearm-dealer licensing framework under Chapter 9B of Title 24 for qualifying firearm dealers, while Delaware’s existing deadly-weapons dealer provisions remain relevant during the phased transition.
The Act was signed September 3, 2026, but its licensing system does not become fully operational immediately. Dealers should follow the enacted phase-in schedule, DSP notices and implementing regulations rather than treating every Chapter 9B requirement as presently operative.
This law is especially important to FFLs and Delaware deadly-weapons dealers because the transition affects state licensing, responsible persons, security, records, training, inspections and renewal procedures.
85 Del. Laws, c. 469
HB 418 — Untraceable / “Ghost Gun” Law Revisions
HB 418 is now enacted law. It revises Delaware’s existing untraceable-firearm statutes, clarifies definitions and creates a path for qualifying people who lawfully possessed unserialized firearms or unfinished frames or receivers to bring them into compliance.
Qualifying items can be brought into compliance through serialization by a federally licensed dealer or manufacturer in accordance with the statute and federal requirements, or by rendering the item permanently inoperable. The law preserves the underlying prohibition on untraceable firearms.
For qualifying existing Delaware residents relying on the September 3, 2026 effective date, the six-month compliance deadline is March 3, 2027. New residents may have a different deadline. Review the statute and dedicated guide to determine eligibility and the correct compliance process.
No. 412, 2025
Department of Safety and Homeland Security v. Birney
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed the Superior Court’s judgment concerning Delaware’s under-21 firearm restrictions. The challenged restrictions remain enforceable, subject to the exceptions written into Delaware law.
Older summaries stating that the Superior Court ruling controlled for 18- to 20-year-olds are no longer current after the September 8, 2026 Delaware Supreme Court decision.
85 Del. Laws, c. 430
HS 1 for HB 427 — Youth Hunting & Target Practice
This law creates specific exceptions allowing qualifying 16- and 17-year-olds to engage in target practice without direct supervision by a person age 21 or older when parental or guardian permission and approved hunter education requirements are satisfied. It also permits qualifying unsupervised hunting when the youth carries a valid Delaware hunting license.
85 Del. Laws, c. 508
HB 342 — Qualifying Out-of-State Protection Orders
HB 342 expands Delaware’s prohibited-person law to cover certain qualifying domestic-violence protection orders issued by another state or territory. Not every out-of-state protection order automatically qualifies; the order must satisfy the statutory criteria.
85 Del. Laws, c. 234
SB 188 — Law-Enforcement Firearm Procurement
Governor Matt Meyer signed SB 188 on January 30, 2026. The law relates specifically to law-enforcement firearm procurement and is included here because it is part of Delaware’s recent firearm-law activity, although it is not primarily a civilian firearm-purchase or carry law.
Handgun Permit to Purchase remains a major recent change
Delaware’s Handgun Qualified Purchaser Permit law was enacted earlier and is now administered by the Delaware State Police. A Delaware resident purchasing a handgun generally must have a valid permit unless an exemption applies.
A valid Delaware CCDW holder is exempt from obtaining the separate purchaser permit.
How DelawareGunLaws.com labels legislation
Official tracking sources
Delaware Department of Justice — October 22 Glock lawsuit announcement — Allegations and requested remedies (not a final ruling)Governor’s Office — October 28 Supreme Court amicus announcementU.S. Supreme Court — December 2026 Argument CalendarDelaware Department of Elections — November 3 unofficial election resultsDelaware General Assembly — HB 141 — Firearm Responsibilities Notice
House Amendment 1 to HB 141 — Amended acknowledgement form and effective-date trigger
Delaware General Assembly — SS 1 for SB 300 — Enacted firearm-dealer licensing framework
Delaware General Assembly — HB 418 — Enacted untraceable-firearm revisions
Delaware Supreme Court — DSHS v. Birney — September 8, 2026 under-21 firearm decision
Delaware General Assembly — HS 1 for HB 427 — Youth hunting and target-practice amendments
Delaware General Assembly — HB 342 — Qualifying out-of-state protection orders
Governor’s Legislative Advisories — Official record of signed and vetoed bills
Delaware State Police — Current Handgun Permit to Purchase implementation
Legislation can change status quickly, and a signed bill may have a delayed or phased effective date. DelawareGunLaws.com distinguishes enacted law from pending legislation and links directly to official Delaware sources for verification.
Last content update: November 5, 2026. Earlier bill summaries are retained from the September 22 legislative review; new October–November developments have been separately verified.
Delaware Firearm Law Library
Browse Delaware statutes, agency guidance and the plain-English guides that explain how the rules fit together.