New Hampshire: Anti-Gun Bills Voted Down in Committee - Possible Floor Fight in the Near Future

Today, February 7, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted to kill two anti-gun bills.  The committee voted down House Bill 201 by a 12-4 vote and House Bill 350 by a 9-7 vote.  However, the bills will not be on the uncontested calendar; therefore, there may be a potential floor fight on both measures.  It is important that you email and call your state Representative and urge them to OPPOSE the bills when they go before the House floor for consideration.  Please click the “Take Action” button below to contact your state Representative!

HB 201, sponsored by state Representative Katherine Rogers (D-Merrimack), would expand background checks for all firearm sales and transfers.  If enacted, HB 201, would require individuals to appear before a licensed firearm dealer to request a criminal background check prior to transferring a firearm, absent limited and vague exceptions.  The firearm dealer would also be required to create a record of each sale.  This flawed legislation is being pushed by an out-of-state anti-gun group who is trying to impose their misguided policies on the law-abiding gun owners of New Hampshire.

In HB 201, a “commercial sale” is defined as a sale, transfer, or exchange of a firearm that takes place at, or on the curtilage of, a gun show or pursuant to an offer to sell, buy, transfer, or exchange a firearm that took place at a gun show, or pursuant to an advertisement, posting, listing, or display.”  This vague definition could encompass all private sales and transfers of firearms.

As drafted, HB 350 seeks to remove one constitutional right while exercising another by prohibiting individuals from carrying a firearm for self-defense while voting.  If enacted, it would become a Class B felony to carry a gun while voting, punishable by up to 7 years in prison.  This is an outrageous attack on the right to self-defense of New Hampshire citizens and gun owners.  Currently, individuals can lawfully carry a firearm into a polling place where it is not prohibited by law to do so.

Once again, please click the “Take Action” button above to urge your state Representative to oppose these bills when they come up for consideration on the House floor.