Lt. Gov. Hall-Long Statement: Senate Bill 2(S) Gun Safety Legislation Signed into Law

DOVER, Del. - Lt. Governor Bethany Hall-Long issued the following statement on Thursday after Senate Bill 2(S) was signed into law by Governor Carney.

"Gun violence is a public health crisis that deserves time and attention from policymakers. Today, Delaware took a strong step toward safer communities. I applaud the Governor, our Attorney General, legislators, and especially the countless advocates for sounding the alarm that we need to do more to protect our kids and families," said Lt. Governor Hall-Long. "Permit to purchase is a proven method to make our state safer and help save lives in Delaware by increasing responsible gun ownership."

"We've seen this issue become all too real; gun violence has caused far too many families to live with an empty seat at their kitchen table. Throughout my legislative career, I've voted for common-sense gun safety laws, including one of the first iterations of Delaware's red flag law. I'm proud to continue supporting those bold steps forward and to stand with our champions today in support of this important bill and our families who have lost loved ones."

National data shows that gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teens in the United States. Going further, research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) cites that an estimated 4.6 million U.S. children live in homes with at least one loaded and unlocked gun. Delaware law currently requires the safe storage of firearms, which is a best practice to help to protect both adults and children from dire consequences.

Over the last five years, the First State has pursued comprehensive gun safety legislation. In 2022, Governor John Carney signed a historic package of common-sense gun safety bills including measures to strengthen background checks and raise the age from 18 to 21 to purchase most firearms.