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Why Delaware lawmakers failed to vote on ‘permit to purchase’ in first weeks of session

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Why Delaware lawmakers failed to vote on ‘permit to purchase’ in first weeks of session


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  • Despite promises by legislative leaders to get ‘permit to purchase’ passed in January, the bill never made it on the House agenda.
  • House Democrats plan to bring the bill to a vote when lawmakers return to session in March.
  • The bill is estimated to cost $2.6 million to implement in the first year, funding that has already been committed in Gov. John Carney’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal.
  • The legislation builds on recently passed gun safety reforms in 2022 and 2023.

Despite Delaware House leadership’s pledge to pass gun safety legislation upon lawmakers’ return to Dover in January, a bill to require training and a permit prior to purchase of a handgun hasn’t made it to a vote.

House Democrats in December announced the Appropriations Committee had approved the bill and House Speaker Valerie Longhurst in a Dec. 14 news release reiterated her commitment to getting the legislation passed when the full House reconvened in January. 

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“For the past decade, we have passed some of the most comprehensive gun safety laws in the country, making Delaware a leader by strengthening our background checks, closing loopholes, banning assault-style firearms and large-capacity magazines, and instituting red flag laws,” Longhurst said in the December news release. “This bill is the next piece of the puzzle to keeping our communities safe and I’m looking forward to bringing permit to purchase to the House floor as soon as we return to session in January.” 

But the bill never made it on the House agenda, and now the General Assembly breaks for the next few weeks while legislative leaders host budget discussions in the Joint Finance Committee.

Typically, the first weeks of the legislative session include at least one major bill’s passage – and political insiders had anticipated the “permit to purchase” bill would be that major piece. 

The bill would require people to undergo a gun safety training course and apply for a permit to qualify for purchase. It would also create a voucher program for low-income residents to cover the costs of the training course. 

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It comes with a $7.8 million annual price tag, according to the fiscal note on the proposal, which necessitated the bill going through the House Appropriations Committee prior to passage on the floor. 

Delawareans debate if residents need to receive training before buying a handgun

Attorney General Kathy Jennings urged lawmakers to get the bill passed as soon as possible.

“Permit to purchase is the most proven gun safety policy in the nation. States with permit to purchase have 25% lower gun homicide rates and 50% lower gun suicide rates than those without, and reduce gun trafficking by as much as 75%,” Jennings said. “We have commitments from Senate and House leadership to pass this legislation – and, as of this week, the legislation is funded in the governor’s recommended budget. This bill will save lives. We have to get it done.”

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When will vote on ‘permit to purchase’ take place?

House Democratic spokesperson Jenevieve Worley said legislative leaders plan to run the bill in March when lawmakers return for session. 

She said recent inclement weather and uncertainty around Gov. John Carney’s rescheduling of the State of the State address forced the House to remain flexible and keep schedules open. 

Worley stressed the bill is something that will draw a lot of attention, and legislators will want to take their time to get the legislation done right. 

LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES 2024: Delaware lawmakers are headed back to Dover. Here’s what they’re focusing on

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Carney’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget proposal also includes nearly $3 million, which covers the estimated $2.7 million costs for implementing “permit to purchase” in the first year. 

Those annual costs increase to $7.8 million by the second year and continue annually thereafter, according to the fiscal note. 

State leaders publicly support bill’s passage

Senate Democrats lauded their efforts on gun safety reforms at the end of last year’s legislative session, underscoring lawmakers commitment to passing “permit to purchase” at the beginning of session in 2024.

In recent years, Delaware lawmakers have passed some gun reform bills, including raising the age for purchase of guns to 21, banning the sale of assault weapons, strengthening background checks and limiting high-capacity magazines, among others.

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Senate lawmakers in June emphasized their commitment to gun safety reform at the end of the first year of the 152nd General Assembly, after a law that makes possession of a firearm in a safe school and recreation zone a felony. 

Under previous state law, a person could only be charged with violating the safe school and recreation zone firearm prohibition once they commit an offense. 

2022 GUN SAFETY: Delaware General Assembly passes more pieces of gun reform legislation

The legislation empowers law enforcement to act immediately when they see or suspect a person is carrying a firearm in a safe school zone, which includes any building, athletic field, sports stadium or real property owned by a K-12 public school, according to the bill.

Another bill approved by the General Assembly last year bars all firearms at active polling places unless carried by a law enforcement officer, security guard, constable or active-duty members of the military acting in their official capacity. 

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And a House bill that imposes criminal charges on gun owners who leave firearms unattended and unsecured in their cars, was approved by the Senate, but was amended and sent back to the House for final consideration. It was not added to the House agenda in January.

Got a tip? Contact Amanda Fries at afries@delawareonline.com, or call or text her at 302-598-5507. Follow her on X at @mandy_fries.



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Delaware

Delaware Lottery Play 3 Day, Play 3 Night winning numbers for Dec. 22, 2024

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Delaware Lottery Play 3 Day, Play 3 Night winning numbers for Dec. 22, 2024


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The Delaware Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024 results for each game:

Winning Play 3 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Day: 6-4-9

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Night: 6-6-9

Check Play 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 4 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Day: 5-3-2-0

Night: 2-7-6-6

Check Play 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Multi-Win Lotto numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

05-09-12-14-25-27

Check Multi-Win Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

04-07-37-43-47, Lucky Ball: 08

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Play 5 numbers from Dec. 22 drawing

Day: 0-1-9-5-6

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Night: 7-6-7-5-7

Check Play 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

  • Sign the Ticket: Establish legal ownership by signing the back of your ticket with an ink pen.
  • Prizes up to $599: Claim at any Delaware Lottery Retailer, in person at the Delaware Lottery Office, or mail your signed ticket and claim form; print your name/address on the ticket’s back and keep a copy/photo for records. By mail, send original tickets and documentation to: Delaware Lottery, 1575 McKee Road, Suite 102, Dover, DE 19904.
  • Prizes up to $2,500: Claim in person at Delaware Lottery Retailer Claim Centers throughout Kent, Sussex and New Castle Counties.
  • Prizes of $5,001 or more: Claim in person at the Delaware Lottery Office (business days 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) with a photo ID and Social Security card.
  • For all prize claims, directions to the Delaware Lottery Office are available online or via mapquest.com for a map.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Delaware Lottery.

Can I claim a jackpot prize anonymously in Delaware?

Fortunately for First State residents, the Delaware Lottery allows winners remain anonymous. Unlike many other states that require a prize be over a certain jackpot, Delawareans can remain anonymous no matter how much, or how little, they win.

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How long do I have to claim my prize in Delaware?

Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date for drawing game prizes or within one year of the announced end of sales for Instant Games, according to delottery.com.

When are the Delaware Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 10:59 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 11:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Play 3, 4: Daily at 1:58 p.m. and 7:57 p.m., except Sunday afternoon.
  • Multi-Win Lotto: 7:57 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
  • Lucky for Life: Daily at 10:38 p.m.
  • Lotto America: 11:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Delaware Online digital operations manager. You can send feedback using this form.



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Delaware

Study: Young Black men in Wilmington say they can’t survive without a firearm

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Study: Young Black men in Wilmington say they can’t survive without a firearm


From Philly and the Pa. suburbs to South Jersey and Delaware, what would you like WHYY News to cover? Let us know!

A new study published in the Delaware Journal of Public Health offers a stark glimpse into the experiences and perceptions of young African American men living in communities often associated with violence.

The research, conducted by scholars from Texas Southern University, Delaware State University, Coppin State University, Jackson State University, and Thurgood Marshall College, interviewed 400 young men between the ages of 15 and 24 who either owned or recently owned a firearm. Of the total group, about 100 participants were from Wilmington, Del.; the others were from Baltimore; Jackson, Miss.; and Houston.

The study — titled “Understanding the Perception of Place and Its Impact on Community Violence” — revealed that many participants felt compelled to carry firearms for safety, often after witnessing or experiencing violence in their neighborhoods. In Wilmington, 86% of respondents described the city negatively, with 74% using only negative terms.

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Their descriptions included words like “murder town,” “treacherous,” “crazy,” “chaotic,” and “a war zone.” A persistent sense of threat pervaded their understanding of the city around them.

Safety concerns drove most participants to arm themselves.

According to the study, young men often encountered firearms at an early age — sometimes as young as 10 — and many had family members or close friends who introduced them to guns. The findings indicate that these decisions are not made lightly, nor in isolation. Social media pressures, limited economic opportunities, limited role models, and easy access to firearms shaped a landscape where carrying a gun seemed logical, even necessary, to the young men for personal protection.

Nurturing hope among young people

These research findings resonate with ongoing efforts at One Village Alliance, a Wilmington nonprofit seeking to nurture young people in a city often misunderstood by outsiders. One evening at the organization’s location on West 31st and Market streets, children gathered in a small kitchen to fill plastic bags with healthy snacks. The exercise, though seemingly simple, has a clear purpose: to instill good nutritional habits and provide a sense of stability. The community around them is sometimes referred to as a food desert, making nutritious food scarce.

By taking part in such activities, the children learn new skills and build confidence. “Can I get this one?” one child asked, eager to take part. Here, learning about healthy eating serves as an introduction to broader life skills that can help counter the environmental factors the study highlights.

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The nonprofit’s after-school enrichment programs aim to reinforce positive experiences and set children on a path toward excellence through education, mentorship, and personal development. It offers a safe space and an alternative to the streets. This approach is informed by staff members who know the stakes all too well.



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A Delaware Water Gap park visit may cost more in ‘25: How you can weigh in

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A Delaware Water Gap park visit may cost more in ‘25: How you can weigh in


A fee increase and expansion are proposed for Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and federal park officials want to hear what people think about it.

The National Park Service on Monday opened a 30-day public comment period to solicit public input on several proposed changes to the park’s fee system.

The proposal includes an increase in fee amounts, a two-week extension of the fee season, changes to the annual pass purchases, and the addition of two new fee sites. If approved, the changes would go into effect in April 2025.

The last fee increase was implemented in 2015, and the park service says revenues aren’t stretching as far as they once did. For starters, visitation to the park has increased 26% since 2019, the park service says. And due to inflation and rising costs, the $10 amenity fee currently charged at the park now purchases nearly 33% less than it did in 2015 when the fee was increased from $7 — it now takes over $13 to buy the same goods and services.

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“Over the past several years, the park’s budget has remained relatively flat while costs and visitation have both increased, facilities and equipment have aged, and the need for routine maintenance has grown,” Superintendent Doyle Sapp said in a news release on the proposal.

“It is essential that we seek additional revenue sources to help us fill the funding gap so that we can continue to offer outstanding recreational opportunities and visitor experiences while protecting the park’s natural and cultural resources in perpetuity,” he continued.

The park service is authorized to collect and retain revenue under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, provided the money is used to enhance visitor experiences. More information on the act can be found at nps.gov.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area does not charge entrance fees to visit the park. Amenity fees are charged for specific areas used for swimming, picnicking and launching boats.

Over the past three years, revenue from Delaware Water Gap’s amenity fees has been used for restroom repairs and upgrades throughout the park, river campsite improvements, multiple trail projects including rehabilitation, stabilization and resurfacing of the McDade Recreational Trail, and work at George W. Childs Park. Revenue also has been used to pay for seasonal maintenance, fee collection and public safety staff.

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“What you pay here, stays here, in this park, where it is used for repair, maintenance, and facility enhancements directly related to visitor enjoyment, access, health, and safety and for seasonal staff that serve park visitors and improve their experiences,” Elizabeth Winslow, the park’s fee program manager, states in the release.

The National Park Service is seeking public comment on the proposed changes that include:

  • Increasing amenity fees from $10 per vehicle per day to $20 per vehicle per day at the sites that charge amenity fees and extending the fee season by approximately two weeks to Nov. 1.
  • Increasing the cost of an annual pass from $45 to $60 and discontinuing discounts for multiple passes issued to the same household.
  • Charging amenity fees at two new sites, Kittatinny Point in New Jersey, and Hialeah Picnic Area in Pennsylvania. Day passes for these sites would be available through recreation.gov, the NPS online reservation system, or in person by using a drop box and fee envelope like those used at other unstaffed fee sites in the park.

If approved, increased revenue from the proposed fee changes would allow the park to hire additional seasonal employees, including custodians, trail workers, interpretive park rangers and visitor center staff, and public safety staff to help meet the public’s needs and ensure outstanding visitor experiences, according to the release.

Additionally, over the next five years the park plans to invest around $800,000 of fee revenue on hiking trail improvements and vegetation management, including on popular trails such as the Toms Creek Trail, Cliff Park Trails, and Hornbecks Creek Trail in Pennsylvania, and the Van Campens Glen Trail, Military Road Trail, and Rattlesnake Swamp Trail in New Jersey. Improvements to the facilities at Milford Beach also are planned.

To comment on the proposal, go to parkplanning.nps.gov/DEWAFees25 and click on “Comment Now” or mail your written comment to Superintendent Doyle Sapp, Attention: Fee Change Proposal, 1978 River Road, Bushkill, PA 18324. The 30-day comment period is open until midnight on Jan. 14, 2025.

Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area is a nearly 70,000-acre unit of the national park system, located in Pike, Monroe and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Sussex counties in New Jersey.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.



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