Welcome. There is no one year requirement law in DE. Thats more crud thats been pushed out from the administration and some investigators. You do need 5 references from people in your county who can and will vouch for your moral character and this could take a bit if you don't know anyone already. The reference forms do ask how long your references have known you so if you just met them I'd definitely hold off. You can use couples so make some friends with neighbors, co-workers (if here in DE) and such quickly. Between moving here, establishing residency and gaining the 5 references required could take you a year anyways.
Delaware's CCDW permit is quite different from PA's LTCF, hence the different name. Its not simply the firearm permit as it is in PA but most any weapon, with a few exceptions.
IIRC, PA's conceal permit was just that and you were not permitted to have the concealed firearm seen. Please correct me if I'm misinformed here. DE doesn't have that restriction and if you're pumping gas on a windy day and it blows open your coat exposing the weapon its not that big a deal.
While its certainly a more detailed process then other states I honestly don't see it being that bad and it could be much worse! The references are the biggest thing. The newspaper ad is a phone call or super quick visit depending on where you live. We popped into the local paper in Middletown while driving through one day. Fingerprints done behind Blue Hen Corporate Center in Dover by the
State Bureau of Identification (SBI) was fast and easy, taking about 40 minutes for my wife and I, with no appointment required! Call them before going however as they have certain days where the place is filled with sex offenders being processed. Photos can be done by yourself or pop into Walmart to have done cheap. The 'required' photo size of 1.5”x 1.5” is an approximation and the Prothonotary office told me they get them and cut them down quite often. Most course instructors are pretty willing to get you in fairly quickly from what I've seen.
Note that since you are a new resident you WILL need a FULL & COMPLETE drivers extract from the PA DMV. This isn't the same as you get for employers. I've talked to 2 investigators and was told they require it as part of their background check for new residents. I was told they request this from just about all applicants living in DE for less than 5 years. We had been living here in DE (NCC) for 2 years when we sent in our applications and 4-5 months into the wait we were asked for the extracts. NOTE: This isn't stated on the process thread we have here on the forums or on the state website. If I had known I'd have gotten it and sent it in with everything else at the start.
Sounds like a lot of time but for the most part it could be done in a day aside from the Intent to publish foolishness. The expense is higher up front but afterwards its on par with other state fees. Don't remember the exact amount but i think it cost us about $300 each.
Hope this helps
btw.. which county?
