All,
[update: The test to see if you can carry a firearm in NH concealed or in a car is simple: Can you legally posses a firearm yes/no? I.e. for almost everyone, this can be thought of as: "Can you go to the store to purchase a firearm and will you be allowed to complete the transaction and take it home?" While not a perfect analogy it is good for 97%+ of the people.
Does residency matter? No, if you can possess a firearm in your home state, you can now carry in NH.
Do I need my MA license? No, unless you want to have it, it is no longer needed. Should you get a NH non-resident license, yes as it adds several states that you can carry in.
What exemptions? There is a short list of places that are off limits: For example, in RSA 159 courts that are off limits regardless of license. ATVs, snowmobiles are also off limits without a license. There are several places in this thread where others have gone into great detail on the list of off limit places.
Schools are a potential issue and I would not risk carry without a license otherwise you potentially are at risk of violating GFSZ act.
Lastly, thank you to all who helped pass SB12] Design updated 2/24/2017
The text of the bill is out. I have not reviewed it to make sure it was a copy of SB116 from last year. We need to confirm that there were no changes to the text.
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2017&id=154&txtFormat=html
PDF below
View attachment SB12.pdf
[Copy below. Not all of the RTF characters copy over. Works in brackets are being removed from the law. Page does not allow me to post that as a strike out:]
1 Pistols and Revolvers; License to Carry. Amend RSA 159:6 to read as follows: 159:6 License to Carry.
I.(a) The selectmen of a town, the mayor or chief of police of a city or a full-time police officer designated by them respectively, the county sheriff for a resident of an unincorporated place, or the county sheriff if designated by the selectmen of a town that has no police chief, upon application of any resident of such town, city, or unincorporated place, or the director of state police, or some person designated by such director, upon application of a nonresident, shall issue a license to such applicant authorizing the applicant to carry a loaded pistol or revolver in this state for not less than [4] 5 years from the date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear injury to the applicant’s person or property or has any proper purpose, [and that the applicant is a suitable person to be licensed] unless the applicant is prohibited by New Hampshire or federal statute from possessing a firearm. Hunting, target shooting, or self-defense shall be considered a proper purpose. The license shall be valid for all allowable purposes regardless of the purpose for which it was originally issued.
(b) The license shall be in duplicate and shall bear the name, address, description, and signature of the licensee. The original shall be delivered to the licensee and the duplicate shall be preserved by the people issuing the same for [4] 5 years. When required, license renewal shall take place within the month of the [fourth] fifth anniversary of the license holder’s date of birth following the date of issuance. The license shall be issued within 14 days after application, and, if such application is denied, the reason for such denial shall be stated in writing, the original of which such writing shall be delivered to the applicant, and a copy kept in the office of the person to whom the application was made. The fee for licenses issued to residents of the state shall be $10, which fee shall be for the use of the town or city granting said licenses; the fee for licenses granted to out-of-state residents shall be $100, which fee shall be for the use of the state. The director of state police is hereby authorized and directed to prepare forms for the licenses required under this chapter and forms for the application for such licenses and to supply the same to officials of the cities and towns authorized to issue the licenses. The form shall require no more information than was required on the state of New Hampshire application for pistol/revolver license, form DSSP 85, as revised in December 2009. No other forms shall be used by officials of cities and towns. The cost of the forms shall be paid out of the fees received from nonresident licenses.
II. No photograph or fingerprint shall be required or used as a basis to grant, deny, or renew a license to carry for a resident or nonresident, unless requested by the applicant.
III. 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.
2 Pistols and Revolvers; Reciprocity. RSA 159:6-d is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
159:6-d Reciprocity. The director of the division of state police shall negotiate and enter into reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions to recognize in those jurisdictions the validity of the license issued under RSA 159:6. The director shall apply to every jurisdiction with which New Hampshire does not have a reciprocity agreement, at least once every 5 years to obtain recognition in those jurisdictions of the license issued under RSA 159:6. Any such agreement executed shall not expire unless an expiration date is required under the statutes of the reciprocal jurisdiction.
3 Repeal. RSA 159:4, relative to requiring a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver, is repealed.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
[update: The test to see if you can carry a firearm in NH concealed or in a car is simple: Can you legally posses a firearm yes/no? I.e. for almost everyone, this can be thought of as: "Can you go to the store to purchase a firearm and will you be allowed to complete the transaction and take it home?" While not a perfect analogy it is good for 97%+ of the people.
Does residency matter? No, if you can possess a firearm in your home state, you can now carry in NH.
Do I need my MA license? No, unless you want to have it, it is no longer needed. Should you get a NH non-resident license, yes as it adds several states that you can carry in.
What exemptions? There is a short list of places that are off limits: For example, in RSA 159 courts that are off limits regardless of license. ATVs, snowmobiles are also off limits without a license. There are several places in this thread where others have gone into great detail on the list of off limit places.
Schools are a potential issue and I would not risk carry without a license otherwise you potentially are at risk of violating GFSZ act.
Lastly, thank you to all who helped pass SB12] Design updated 2/24/2017
The text of the bill is out. I have not reviewed it to make sure it was a copy of SB116 from last year. We need to confirm that there were no changes to the text.
http://gencourt.state.nh.us/bill_Status/billText.aspx?sy=2017&id=154&txtFormat=html
PDF below
View attachment SB12.pdf
[Copy below. Not all of the RTF characters copy over. Works in brackets are being removed from the law. Page does not allow me to post that as a strike out:]
1 Pistols and Revolvers; License to Carry. Amend RSA 159:6 to read as follows: 159:6 License to Carry.
I.(a) The selectmen of a town, the mayor or chief of police of a city or a full-time police officer designated by them respectively, the county sheriff for a resident of an unincorporated place, or the county sheriff if designated by the selectmen of a town that has no police chief, upon application of any resident of such town, city, or unincorporated place, or the director of state police, or some person designated by such director, upon application of a nonresident, shall issue a license to such applicant authorizing the applicant to carry a loaded pistol or revolver in this state for not less than [4] 5 years from the date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear injury to the applicant’s person or property or has any proper purpose, [and that the applicant is a suitable person to be licensed] unless the applicant is prohibited by New Hampshire or federal statute from possessing a firearm. Hunting, target shooting, or self-defense shall be considered a proper purpose. The license shall be valid for all allowable purposes regardless of the purpose for which it was originally issued.
(b) The license shall be in duplicate and shall bear the name, address, description, and signature of the licensee. The original shall be delivered to the licensee and the duplicate shall be preserved by the people issuing the same for [4] 5 years. When required, license renewal shall take place within the month of the [fourth] fifth anniversary of the license holder’s date of birth following the date of issuance. The license shall be issued within 14 days after application, and, if such application is denied, the reason for such denial shall be stated in writing, the original of which such writing shall be delivered to the applicant, and a copy kept in the office of the person to whom the application was made. The fee for licenses issued to residents of the state shall be $10, which fee shall be for the use of the town or city granting said licenses; the fee for licenses granted to out-of-state residents shall be $100, which fee shall be for the use of the state. The director of state police is hereby authorized and directed to prepare forms for the licenses required under this chapter and forms for the application for such licenses and to supply the same to officials of the cities and towns authorized to issue the licenses. The form shall require no more information than was required on the state of New Hampshire application for pistol/revolver license, form DSSP 85, as revised in December 2009. No other forms shall be used by officials of cities and towns. The cost of the forms shall be paid out of the fees received from nonresident licenses.
II. No photograph or fingerprint shall be required or used as a basis to grant, deny, or renew a license to carry for a resident or nonresident, unless requested by the applicant.
III. 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.
2 Pistols and Revolvers; Reciprocity. RSA 159:6-d is repealed and reenacted to read as follows:
159:6-d Reciprocity. The director of the division of state police shall negotiate and enter into reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions to recognize in those jurisdictions the validity of the license issued under RSA 159:6. The director shall apply to every jurisdiction with which New Hampshire does not have a reciprocity agreement, at least once every 5 years to obtain recognition in those jurisdictions of the license issued under RSA 159:6. Any such agreement executed shall not expire unless an expiration date is required under the statutes of the reciprocal jurisdiction.
3 Repeal. RSA 159:4, relative to requiring a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver, is repealed.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
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