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Delaware Code Title 11. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 1457A. Possession of a firearm or projectile weapon in a Safe School Zone;  class E felony

Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff

(a) As used in this section:

(1) “Constable” means as licensed under Chapter 56 of Title 24.

(2) “Firearm” means as defined in § 222 of this title and includes a destructive weapon as defined in § 1444(a) and (c) of this title and includes BB guns.

(3) “Police officer” means as defined in § 8401 of this title.

(4) “Qualified retired law-enforcement officer” means as defined in § 1441B of this title.

(5) “Safe School Zone” means all of the following:

a. Any building, structure, athletic field, sports stadium, or real property owned, operated, leased, or rented by any public or private school including any kindergarten, elementary, secondary, or vocational-technical school.

b. Any motor vehicle owned, operated, leased, or rented by any public or private school including any kindergarten, elementary, secondary, or vocational-technical school.

(b) Any person who knowingly possesses a firearm or projectile weapon while in a Safe School Zone shall be guilty of the crime of possession of a firearm or projectile weapon in a Safe School Zone.

(c) Subsection (b) of this section does not apply to any of the following:

(1) A police officer.

(2) A constable employed by a school or school district who is acting in an official capacity in a Safe School Zone.

(3) An active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces or Delaware National Guard who is acting in an official capacity in a Safe School Zone.

(4) A holder of a valid license to carry concealed deadly weapons under § 1441 of this title, but only if the firearm or projectile weapon is in a motor vehicle.

(5) An employee of the Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families who is acting in an official capacity in a Safe School Zone and who is authorized by the Secretary of the Department to carry a firearm or projectile weapon while acting in the employee's official capacity.

(6) A probation and parole officer who is acting in an official capacity in a Safe School Zone.

(7) A qualified retired law-enforcement officer who is employed or contracted by a school or school district to assist with security or investigations and who is acting in an official capacity in a Safe School Zone.

(d) Subsection (b) of this section does not apply in any of the following circumstances:

(1) On private property not part of school grounds.

(2) A firearm in a locked container or locked firearms rack that is in or on a motor vehicle.

(3) When engaged in any of the following:

a. Lawful hunting.

b. Firearm or projectile weapon instruction.

c. Firearm or projectile weapon-related sports on public lands, other than those belonging to a public or private school.

d. Projectile weapon-related sports on lands belonging to a public or private school authorized by the public or private school.

(e) A person who violates this section is guilty of a class E felony.

(f) If an elementary or secondary school student possesses a firearm or projectile weapon in a Safe School Zone other than under paragraph (d)(3)d. of this section, in addition to any other penalties contained in this section, the student shall be expelled by the local school board or charter school board of directors for a period of not less than 180 days unless otherwise provided for in federal or state law.  The local school board or charter school board of directors may, on a case-by-case basis, modify the terms of the expulsion to less than 180 days.

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Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Delaware Code Title 11. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 1457A. Possession of a firearm or projectile weapon in a Safe School Zone;  class E felony - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/de/title-11-crimes-and-criminal-procedure/de-code-sect-11-1457a/

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