AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES INVOLVING DEADLY WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on how this change will affect safety during hunting activities for young hunters.

Changes to Gun Laws for Young Hunters

This bill allows hunters aged 16 to 17 to use firearms while hunting without direct supervision from someone aged 21 or older, if they have completed a hunter education course and possess a valid Delaware Hunting License.

What This Bill Does

• Allows individuals between ages 16 and 17 to possess firearms while hunting without the direct supervision of a person aged 21 or older.
• Requires these young hunters to complete a Delaware-approved Basic Hunter Education Course before they can hunt alone.
• Needs the young hunter to have a valid Delaware Hunting License in their possession when hunting.

Who It Names or Affects

• Hunters between ages 16 and 17 who want to use firearms while hunting without adult supervision.
• The Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, which issues hunting licenses and regulates hunting activities.

Terms To Know

Basic Hunter Education Course

A course that teaches young hunters about safety, ethics, firearm types, safe gun handling, marksmanship techniques, specialty hunting techniques, wildlife management, identification of wildlife, survival skills, and compliance with hunting laws.

Delaware Hunting License

A license issued by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control that allows individuals to legally hunt in Delaware.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if a young hunter violates hunting laws.
• It is unclear how this change will affect safety during hunting activities for young hunters.
• This bill has passed the legislature but its final approval and implementation are pending.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES INVOLVING DEADLY WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS.
Hunting and those permitted to hunt in Delaware are strictly regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (the "Department"). Federal and Delaware law and Department regulations specifically regulate and strictly limit the dates, times, locations, methods, and types of firearms or projectile weapons permitted to be used to hunt in Delaware. Every individual age 16 to 17 is required to take a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course administered by the Department prior to the issuance of a Delaware Hunting License. A Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course teaches young hunters safety, ethics, firearm types, safe gun handling, marksmanship techniques, specialty hunting techniques, wildlife management, wildlife identification, survival, and compliance with hunting laws and regulation.
This bill establishes that individuals aged 16 to 17 may possess a firearm while hunting without the direct supervision of a person 21 years or older, provided they have completed a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course and have been issued and are digitally or physically in possession of a valid Delaware Adult Hunting License issued by the Department.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Spiegelman & Rep. Carson & Sen. Pettyjohn

Reps. Harris, Hensley, Morris, D. Short, Yearick; Sens. Buckson, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 427

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 11 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO OFFENSES INVOLVING DEADLY WEAPONS AND DANGEROUS INSTRUMENTS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE (Two-thirds of all members elected to each house thereof concurring therein):

Section 1. Amend § 1445, Title 11 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

(6) Notwithstanding any provision of this Title to the contrary, the requirement for direct supervision of persons ages 16 to 17 in possession of a firearm while target practicing or hunting, as defined in § 101(4) of Title 7, shall not be applicable so long as a parent or guardian permits the 16 to 17 year old person to have possession of a firearm; provided, the 16 to 17 year old has completed a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course pursuant to § 501 and 506 of Title 7 and has been issued and is digitally or physically in possession of a valid Delaware Hunting License issued by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control.

SYNOPSIS

Hunting and those permitted to hunt in Delaware are strictly regulated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (the "Department"). Federal and Delaware law and Department regulations specifically regulate and strictly limit the dates, times, locations, methods, and types of firearms or projectile weapons permitted to be used to hunt in Delaware. Every individual age 16 to 17 is required to take a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course administered by the Department prior to the issuance of a Delaware Hunting License. A Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course teaches young hunters safety, ethics, firearm types, safe gun handling, marksmanship techniques, specialty hunting techniques, wildlife management, wildlife identification, survival, and compliance with hunting laws and regulation.

This bill establishes that individuals aged 16 to 17 may possess a firearm while hunting without the direct supervision of a person 21 years or older, provided they have completed a Delaware approved Basic Hunter Education Course and have been issued and are digitally or physically in possession of a valid Delaware Adult Hunting License issued by the Department.