New Hampshire: Senate Committee to Hear Several Pro Gun Bills Next Week

On March 10^th, the New Hampshire Senate Judiciary Committee will be holding a hearing on HB 609, enhancing firearm preemption and HB 1365, increasing privacy protections for concealed carry permits. Please click the TAKE ACTION button below to contact your representatives and ask them to support H.B. 609 and H.B. 1365.

H.B. 609 narrows the authority to regulate firearms from the state to the state legislature of New Hampshire, preempting both political subdivisions and state agencies. Under this version, neither political subdivisions nor the agencies of the executive branch can circumvent the legislature should a future anti-gun administration take control of the governor’s office. In addition, the bill was amended to broaden the category of arms covered by preemption to include firearms, ammunition, and knives, as well as all other “self-defense tools,” including but not limited to stun guns, tasers, and pepper spray. Preemption laws are critical to preventing a patchwork of inconsistent local rules governing the possession and carrying of firearms that could allow gun owners to run afoul of local rules simply because the crossed from one town to another.  

H.B. 1365 revises the application process for an optional New Hampshire carry permit so that the applicant is no longer required to list personal references or employer information. Character references to exercise a core right are both unconstitutional and burdensome on the applicant. Requiring employment information is a clear violation of the applicant’s privacy and has no logical nexus to determining whether the applicant is prohibited person. Additionally, H.B. 1365 would ensure that the application process does not require disclosure of unnecessary personal or medical information. While New Hampshire is a constitutional carry state, many residents still obtain a state permit for other benefits including out of state carry.

NRA-ILA will continue to monitor these bills throughout the session and fight for the rights of law-abiding Granite Staters.