New Hampshire Gun Laws
Gun Laws Overview
RIFLES & SHOTGUNS | HANDGUNS | |
---|---|---|
Permit to Purchase | No | No |
Registration of Firearms | No | No |
Licensing of Owners | No | No |
Permit to Carry | No | No* |
*A permit to carry is available, but it is not required to carry a handgun either openly or concealed. The list and map below are included as a tool to assist you in validating your information. We have made every effort to report the information correctly, however reciprocity and recognition agreements are subject to frequent change. The information is not intended as legal advice or a restatement of law and does not include: restrictions that may be placed on non-resident permits, individuals under the age of 21, qualifying permit classes, and/or any other factor which may limit reciprocity and/or recognition. For any particular situation, a licensed local attorney must be consulted for an accurate interpretation. YOU MUST ABIDE WITH ALL LAWS: STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL. |
STATE STATUS | |
---|---|
Castle Doctrine | Enacted |
No-Net Loss | No Legislation |
Right to Carry Confidentiality | Provisions Enacted |
Right to Carry in Restaurants | Legal |
Right To Carry Laws | No Permit Required |
Right To Carry Reciprocity and Recognition | True Reciprocity |
Right to Keep & Bear Arms State Constitutional Provisions | With Provisions |
Laws on Purchase, Possession and Carrying of Firearms
Purchase
There are no state licensing requirements for the purchase of any rifle, shotgun or handgun. MORE |
Possession
There are no state licensing requirements for the possession of rifles, shotguns or handguns. It is unlawful for any person who has been convicted of a felony to own, possess or control any firearm. MORE |
Carry
New Hampshire is a permitless carry state, and New Hampshire Statute 159:6(III) provides that "The availability of a license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver under this section or under any other provision of law shall not be construed to impose a prohibition on the unlicensed transport or carry of a firearm in a vehicle, or on or about one’s person, whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, by a resident, nonresident, or alien if that individual is not otherwise prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm in the state of New Hampshire." MORE |
Preemption
The state of New Hampshire shall have authority and jurisdiction over the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, or other matter pertaining to firearms, firearms components, ammunition, or firearms supplies in the state. MORE |
Machine Guns
In the absence of any state law governing automatic weapons, federal law controls the registration and regulation of machine guns in New Hampshire. |
Antiques and Replicas
Antiques, defined as any handgun "utilizing an early type of ignition," such as flintlocks, percussion and pin fires, are exempt from the above regulations. No handgun which utilizes centerfire or rimfire cartridges will be considered an antique. |
Range Protection
No person who owns, operates, or uses a shooting range in this state shall be subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution in any matter relating to noise or noise pollution... MORE |
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Families Afield is an education and outreach program that helps states create hunting opportunities for those looking to ...
Monday, April 18, 2011
This Wednesday, April 20, the state Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on legislation to allow a ...
Monday, April 18, 2011
New Hampshire could become the fourth state to eliminate the need for a permit to carry concealed, loaded ...
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Yesterday, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee heard an important self-defense bill that is critical to ...
Thursday, April 7, 2011
On April 12, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee is scheduled to hear an important self-defense ...
Friday, April 1, 2011
As previously reported, the Senate Judiciary Committee added a hostile amendment to Senate Bill 88 that would have ...
Friday, February 25, 2011
Yesterday, three firearm-related bills were heard by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee: House Bill 235, ...
Friday, February 25, 2011
House Speaker William O’Brien, R-Mont Vernon, personally signed onto legislation that would make New Hampshire the fourth state ...
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
House Bill 334 will be heard tomorrow, February 24, by the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. ...
Friday, February 18, 2011
On Thursday, February 24, the New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will be taking testimony ...