Delaware Bill Proposes State Firearm Registry and FFL Licensing

Legislators in Dover introduced Senate Bill 300 at the end of April, a 26-page measure that would establish a new state-level licensing system for firearm dealers and create what opponents describe as a de facto firearm registry.

The bill requires every firearms dealer in Delaware to obtain a state license in addition to their existing federal FFL. That license comes with a long list of new mandates: High-end surveillance camera systems with mandatory video storage, specific security and storage requirements for inventory, frequent inspections by the Delaware State Police, and tiered licensing fees that increase based on how many guns a dealer sells in a year.

The most controversial provision requires dealers to maintain electronic databases tracking every firearm that passes through their business. Dealers would have to record each gun's make, model, serial number, acquisition and disposition dates, and the identity of every purchaser.

The NRA-ILA immediately opposed the bill, labeling it an "FFL killer" and warning that the cumulative burden of the new requirements could drive many Delaware gun stores out of business. "This legislation duplicates federal law and will do nothing to improve public safety," the organization said in a statement, urging members to contact the Senate Executive Committee and ask them to oppose SB 300.

The bill's introduction comes late in Delaware's legislative session, which means it faces a compressed timeline. Delaware's gun laws are already among the strictest in the country, and SB 300 represents yet another layer of state-level regulation on top of existing federal requirements.

From a practical standpoint, Delaware gun owners should watch this one closely. If the registry provisions survive, every firearm transaction in the state would generate a digital record tied to a specific buyer's identity, stored in a state-accessible database. The additional costs imposed on dealers would almost certainly be passed on to customers through higher prices, assuming the dealer can afford to stay open at all.

The Delaware House GOP has signaled opposition, calling the bill the latest in a trend of restrictions on firearm sales and possession. The bill is currently in committee.