Delaware prohibits a parent, guardian or other person legally charged with the care or custody of a child less than 18 years old from knowingly, intentionally or with criminal negligence contributing to or failing to prevent the unlawful possession or purchase of a firearm by a juvenile.¹ A defendant may raise as an “absolute” defense to charges for violation of this provision that he or she: 1) had a lock on the trigger of the firearm and did not tell or show the juvenile where the key to the trigger lock was kept; or 2) locked the firearm in a key or combination locked container and did not tell or show the juvenile where the key was kept or what the combination was.²

A parent is criminally liable for “unlawfully dealing with a dangerous weapon” when he or she permits his or her child under age 16 to possess a firearm unless under the direct supervision of an adult.³

In addition, it is a misdemeanor to intentionally or recklessly store or leave a loaded and unsecured firearm where a minor or other prohibited person can, and does, access it, and: (1) the firearm was not stored in a locked box or container; (2) the firearm was not disabled by a trigger lock; (3) the firearm was not stored “in a location that a reasonable person would have believed to be secure”; and (4) the “unauthorized person did not obtain the firearm as the result of an unlawful entry by any person.”⁴

State administrative regulations may also govern the storage of firearms in specific locations in Delaware.

Delaware does not require a locking device to accompany the sale of a firearm, although federal law applies, and no state statutes require firearm owners to affirmatively lock their weapons.

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1. Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 603. A juvenile is a person less than 18 years of age. Del. Code Ann. Del. Code Ann. tit. 1, § 701.[↩]
2. Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 603.[↩]
3. Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 1445(3).[↩]
4. Del. Code Ann. tit. 11, § 1456(a). If the minor or other prohibited person attempts or commits a crime with the firearm, uses the firearm to inflict serious injury or death upon him/herself or someone else, or transfers or attempts to transfer the firearm to another minor or prohibited person, it is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $2,300 fine. Id. § 1456(c)(2). Otherwise, it is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by up to six months in prison and up to a $1,150 fine. Id. § 1456(c)(1).[↩]