HB342 • 2025

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE POSSESSION AND PURCHASE OF DEADLY WEAPONS BY PERSONS PROHIBITED.

Firearms

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Griffith
Last action: 2026-05-19
Official status: Senate Judiciary 5/19/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on verification and enforcement procedures for out-of-state protective orders.

Expanding Weapon Restrictions for People with Out-of-State Protective Orders

This act changes Delaware law to stop people from buying or owning deadly weapons if they have a protection order against them from another state.

What This Bill Does

Adds new rules that prevent people who are under out-of-state protective orders from getting deadly weapons in Delaware.

Who It Names or Affects

People who have protective orders against them from courts in other states.
Law enforcement and courts that need to enforce these new rules.

Terms To Know

Protective Order: A court order that helps protect someone from abuse or violence by setting limits on the actions of another person.
Deadly Weapon: An object like a gun, knife, or other instrument that can cause serious injury or death if used in certain ways.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify how out-of-state orders will be verified or enforced.
It is unclear what happens to existing out-of-state protective orders before the law takes effect.

Bill History

2026-05-19 Delaware General Assembly
Passed By House. Votes: 34 YES 2 NOT VOTING 5 ABSENT
2026-05-19 Delaware General Assembly
Assigned to Judiciary Committee in Senate
2026-04-15 Delaware General Assembly
Reported Out of Committee (Judiciary) in House with 10 On Its Merits
2026-04-09 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Assigned to Judiciary Committee in House

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE POSSESSION AND PURCHASE OF DEADLY WEAPONS BY PERSONS PROHIBITED.
Current law prohibits persons subject to Family Court protective orders from purchasing or possessing deadly weapons, with some exceptions. This Act extends this prohibition to individuals with out-of-state protective orders as well.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Griffith & Sen. Poore

Reps. Berry, Gorman, K. Johnson, Morrison, Romer, Ross Levin, Snyder-Hall, Chukwuocha, Harris; Sens. Sokola, Hansen, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 342

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE POSSESSION AND PURCHASE OF DEADLY WEAPONS BY PERSONS PROHIBITED.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend § 1448, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

§ 1448. Possession and purchase of deadly weapons by persons prohibited; penalties.

(a) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the following persons are prohibited from purchasing, owning, possessing, or controlling a deadly weapon or ammunition for a firearm within the State:

(6) Any person who knows that the person is subject to

a Family Court protection from abuse order

1 of the following:

a. A Family Court protection from abuse order,

but only for so long as the order remains in

effect,

effect.

except that this

This

paragraph

shall

does

not apply to a contested order issued solely upon § 1041(1)d., e., or i. of Title 10, or any combination thereof.

b. A domestic violence protection order issued by a court of another state or territory if either of the following apply:

1. The person is prohibited under the order to purchase, own, possess, or control a deadly weapon or ammunition for a firearm.

2. The order meets the criteria of 18 U.S.C. § 922(g)(8).

SYNOPSIS

Current law prohibits persons subject to Family Court protective orders from purchasing or possessing deadly weapons, with some exceptions. This Act extends this prohibition to individuals with out-of-state protective orders as well.