That’s right! The Delaware State Fair is now officially anti-gun. On June 9, 2023, the Delaware State Fair website announced that only on-duty and off-duty Delaware police officers (and certain federal LEOs) will be allowed admission to the Delaware State Fair carrying concealed firearms.
According to the Delaware State Fair Admissions and Entry Policy and Screening Procedures, if you are a retired police officer with a “218 Permit”, or if you are one of the almost 30,000 Delawareans with a Delaware Concealed Carry permit, or if you hold a concealed carry permit from a state with which Delaware has concealed carry reciprocity, or you are an out-of-state LEO, you must now choose between going unarmed or not attending the Delaware State Fair.
The Delaware State Fair has now banned not only “Open Carry” but also licensed Concealed Carry – that’s right, the Delaware State Fair now says that your Delaware Concealed Carry Permit or your 218 Permit are NO GOOD at the Delaware State Fair. They do not care that you are a licensed, law-abiding concealed carry permit holder – you are not welcome at the Delaware State Fair.
In a blatant insult to law-abiding permit holders, they say their ban on licensed and lawful concealed carry is to keep fairgoers “safe”. Really? Since when did law-abiding, licensed concealed carry permit holders constitute a public safety threat to anyone but bad guys with guns?
According to the
Admissions Policy and Screening Procedures
Anyone passing through the public gates will be required to pass through metal detectors to gain admission to the State Fair. The website further warns that Fair officials reserve the right to conduct “further screening”, as necessary – in other words, they intend to search you and your bags – and they as much as admit that they intend to do exactly that.
According to the website, if you relinquish an item at the screening site, that item will not be returned and will be forfeited.
The Delaware State Sportsmen’s Association stringently opposes this draconian new policy and the Delaware State Fair’s grossly inappropriate insult to the law-abiding Concealed Carry Permit holders and 218 Permit holders of the State of Delaware.
So-called “gun free zones” are a dangerous invitation to criminal violence by those who would prey upon the innocent and unarmed in our society. History has shown that “Gun Free Zones” such as the one being created by the Delaware State Fair are inherently dangerous, indeed.
The best defense against a bad guy with a gun is a fully trained and licensed good guy with a gun, who is ready, willing and able to take responsibility for the safety of themselves and their families – and to protect their fellow citizens from the depredations of the violent and mentally deranged individuals now running free in our society.
If you are unwilling to be disarmed at the whim of the suddenly “woke” Board of Directors of the Delaware State Fair, you may wish to stay home, and not subject you or your family to the dangers of this dangerous, ill-advised, and draconian anti-freedom policy.
The choice is yours – give up your God-given right to self-defense and financially support the “woke” Delaware State Fair in the process – or, stand on your rights, stand your ground, and find something better to do with your time and your money.
We suggest that you vote with both your wallet and your feet. Let the Delaware State Fair Board of Directors know just how insulted you feel by being told that as either a licensed and law-abiding Concealed Carry Permit holder or as a Retired LEO with a 218 Permit, you somehow pose a danger to public safety and are unfit to be allowed into the Fair with your concealed carry piece.
Let your voice be heard – Letters may be addressed to:
Delaware State Fair Board of Directors
P.O. Box 28
Harrington, DE 19952
or emailed to:
Rebekkah@TheStateFair.net
Tell them what you think!
SUGGESTION:
You may wish to save the money you would have otherwise spent at “The Un-Fair” and use that money to support DSSA in its fight to preserve, protect and defend your right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes in Delaware.