New Hampshire: Senate Committee to Hear Gun Control Bills

On April 30^th, the New Hampshire state Senate Judiciary Committee will hear two anti-gun bills that were previously passed by the state House of Representatives.  House Bill 514 will impose delays on Second Amendment rights and House Bill 564 would restrict law-abiding citizens from defending themselves and their loved ones on school grounds.  Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE HB 514 and HB 564.  Click the “Take Action” button below to contact committee members.

Additionally, NRA members and Second Amendment supporters are invited to attend this hearing in Room 100 of the State House at 10:00AM on April 30^th in order to express their opposition to these bills.

House Bill 514 would delay Second Amendment rights by requiring a seven day waiting period (excluding weekends and holidays) before an individual may receive firearms that they purchase.  There would be limited exemptions, such as for those who have completed the 16 hour hunter safety course and are seeking to buy a long gun.  The original version of the bill would have imposed the waiting period for ammunition as well, but that provision has been amended out.

Waiting periods are an archaic relic from before the digital age, since they were originally meant to give local law enforcement time to complete background checks.  Since the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) came into operation in 1998, technology has allowed background checks to be done instantly, activating the law that eliminated the federally required waiting periods.  There is no evidence that waiting periods reduce suicides.  A waiting period would not deter or affect criminals, as they obtain the vast majority of their firearms from illegal sources.  It would especially affect first-time buyers seeking a firearm for self-defense, as it would be a seven working day delay where they and their loved ones are left defenseless.

House Bill 564, sponsored by Representative Mary Heath (D-Hillsborough 14), would prohibit law-abiding citizens carrying firearms for self-defense from going onto school grounds except when picking-up or dropping-off students and the firearm remains in the vehicle.  This would burden law-abiding citizens by requiring them to unnecessarily handle firearms that are already securely holstered and leave them in the vehicle when exiting.  In addition, the exemption to leave firearms in vehicles would not extend to going onto school grounds for other purposes, such as attending events, filling out school paperwork, or meeting with school officials.  Parents would have to deviate from their normal routes to leave firearms at home or to park off-campus.  So called “gun-free zones” simply disarm law-abiding citizens and leave them defenseless against the criminals who ignore such arbitrary boundaries.  School safety is of the utmost importance, but restricting the rights of law-abiding New Hampshire citizens won't result in increased school safety.

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to urge committee members to OPPOSE HB 514 and HB 564.  NRA members and Second Amendment supporters who wish to attend the 10:00AM hearing on April 30^th may find details here and below.

10:00AM on April 30^th
State House Room 100
107 N Main St.
Concord, NH 03303