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, February 8, 2011
State Representative Steve Cunningham (R-2) has introduced legislation to strengthen and protect the Second Amendment rights of the ...
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Competing bills have been filed to eliminate New Hampshire's license requirement for carrying concealed weapons, dividing the pro ...
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Four years ago, Gov. John Lynch blocked gun rights advocates` effort to expand a person`s right to use ...
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A state lawmaker has filed a bill to explicitly permit residents to ward off trespassers by exhibiting a ...
Monday, September 20, 2010
Fairfax, Va.-- The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is endorsing Frank Guinta for election to the ...
Monday, September 20, 2010
Fairfax, Va.-- The National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund (NRA-PVF) is endorsing Charlie Bass for election to the ...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Seventeen year old home school student Julia Parker, of Merrimack, has grown up learning the importance of the ...
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Town officials in Nottingham reviewed a gun policy Monday night that would allow town employees to bring guns ...
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Displaying a gun to warn a potential attacker away would not be considered a crime under a bill ...
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
House Bill 160 passed the Senate Judiciary and will be considered by the full Senate tomorrow, Wednesday, May ...