The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control and the Delaware Department of Agriculture have proposed new regulations expanding the scope of legal possession of firearms within Delaware’s state parks, state wildlife areas and state forests.

According to a Jan. 19 press release, the proposed regulations by DNREC and DDA allow visitors to legally possess firearms, as allowed by Delaware law, in state parks, wildlife areas and forests unless they are prohibited by law due to a past conviction for a violent crime, active Protection from Abuse Order, or mental health commitment. This would include, for example, trails, unguarded beaches, parking lots, and vehicles.

The proposed regulations prohibit firearms only in certain public facilities and designated areas such as park offices, visitor centers, nature centers, bathhouses, stadiums and facilities while used for events, museums, zoos, stables, educational facilities, dormitories, playgrounds, camping areas, swimming pools, guarded beaches, and water parks. Proposed regulations call for these designated areas to be identified by appropriate signage.

The proposed regulations allow holders of valid Delaware concealed-carry permits to carry within parks, including designated areas, provided only that the permit be produced upon request. The regulations would further allow active-duty law and qualified retired law enforcement officers to carry anywhere within the parks and other areas affected by Supreme Court decision.

The proposed regulations can be found on the DNREC website at www.dnrec.delaware.gov/Admin/Documents/DNREC-DDA-Proposed-regulations-for-firearms-possession-in-state-parks-and-forests.pdf.

A public hearing on the proposed regulations will be held at 6 p.m., Monday, March 12, in DNREC’s Richardson & Robbins Auditorium, 89 Kings Highway, Dover.

In advance of the public hearing, public workshops on the proposed regulations will be held in February in all three counties. The Sussex County workshop is 6 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 22, at Sussex Central High School, 26026 Patriots Way, Georgetown.