New Hampshire: Firearms Legislation before Committee Next Week

Ammo Land ^ | Feb 18, 2013 | AmmoLand Staff

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Charlotte, NC --(Ammoland.com)- Several firearm-related bills are scheduled for a hearing in the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee on Thursday, February 21 in Representative Hall.

The following anti-gun bills will be considered:

HB 290-FN, introduced by state Representative Delmar Burridge (D- Cheshire 16), would prohibit individuals without a carry permit from openly carrying a pistol or revolver in a public building. This legislation imposes unnecessary restrictions on your Right to Keep and Bear Arms and provides no benefit to public safety. This hearing will take place at 10:00 a.m.

HB 396, introduced by Representative Cynthia Sweeney (D-Sullivan 8), would establish a committee to study the effect of mandated safety training or instruction prior to the purchase or acquisition of a firearm. This legislation would be an extremely costly endeavor that places an undue burden on law-abiding citizens wishing to exercise a constitutional right. This hearing will take place at 2:00 p.m.

The following pro-gun bills will be considered:

HB 609, introduced by Representative Daniel Itse (R-Rockingham 10), requires each individual school district to vote to establish policies and procedures relative to licensed school employees carrying a firearm while on school property. This legislation gives school boards the option to allow employees who hold a pistol/revolver to carry the job, increasing the safety of students and school employees across the state. This hearing will take place at 11:00 a.m.

HB 451-FN, introduced by Representative J.R. Hoell (R-Merrimack 23), is an omnibus bill of which a key provision would repeal the licensing requirement for carrying a concealed pistol or revolver. This legislation would allow law-abiding gun owners to carry their firearms for self-defense without going through the arduous process associated with obtaining a pistol/revolver license. This hearing will take place at 1:00 p.m.

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Please contact members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee and urge them to stand up for our firearms freedoms when they vote on these measures next week! Click here to view contact information for members of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee.

[freeandfreezing]

Time to head for Concord and support our pro freedom legislators. Rep. Itse has a proven record of support for our constitutional rights. The various “D’s” not so much!

[ConservativeInPA]

Here are two acid tests for good legislation: Does it require citizens to do anything? Does it cost anything or cause an unfunded mandate?

For the case of arms, all that is needed is the 2a.

HB 609, introduced by Representative Daniel Itse (R-Rockingham 10), requires each individual school district to vote to establish policies and procedures relative to licensed school employees carrying a firearm while on school property. This legislation gives school boards the option to allow employees who hold a pistol/revolver to carry the job, increasing the safety of students and school employees across the state.

Requiring school districts to establish policies and procedures is an unfunded mandate. That costs money. If all law abiding citizens were allowed to carry weapons of their choosing, in a manner of their choosing, at places of their choosing there would be greater freedom, liberty and safety. It would also cost nothing.

HB 451-FN, introduced by Representative J.R. Hoell (R-Merrimack 23), is an omnibus bill of which a key provision would repeal the licensing requirement for carrying a concealed pistol or revolver. This legislation would allow law-abiding gun owners to carry their firearms for self-defense without going through the arduous process associated with obtaining a pistol/revolver license.

This sounds like bill that is heading the right direction. All states should do this and move to the point where there is no local, state or federal firearms laws.

[billorites]

I wouldn't describe licensing here in NH as a particularly arduous process.

NH is a shall issue state. Upon submission of an application, absence of criminal background, restraining orders, etc. the police chief shall issue the permit.

It's very pro forma compared to my experiences in CT and MA. It's like getting your dog licensed.

[freeandfreezing]

This legislation gives school boards the option to allow employees who hold a pistol/revolver to carry the job, increasing the safety of students and school employees across the state.

Requiring school districts to establish policies and procedures is an unfunded mandate.

In NH this type of bill is used to provide a way for local elected school boards to set their own policy as opposed to having the policy set at the state level. It is not an unfunded mandate since the school doesn't have to take any action, and from a practical level this kind of policy is drafted and set by school boards who are not compensated for their time.

I agree with the principles of your tests for good legislation, but when you look at this type of legislation in the context of NH law it passes the tests and it moves the policy setting down to the local level as a way of avoiding actions that might be taken by Democrats at the state level acting politically instead of practically.

When you ask actual parents they want armed security in the schools - the voters in Newtown, Connecticut recently voted to expand the presence of armed security in their schools, against the political wishes of the liberal elites using their tragedy for political purposes.

[ConservativeInPA]

It's like getting your dog licensed.

I don't like getting my dogs licensed. While it costs little in terms of dollars, it does require going down to the township building during their office hours. It also requires taxes to be paid to pay for a local government employee that adds zero value to the community.

I live in PA, a shall issue state. Carry licenses are taking weeks to be approved by county sheriffs because of their processes in obtaining background checks. The problem is many sheriff offices call in for background checks at the end of the day. That is up to 67 counties calling at the same time and it causes a backlog. PA doesn't use NICS for background checks, it uses PICS (run by the state police). The commonwealth has expanded staffing by nine employees (figure that to be around $750k in salary and benefits) and is going to perform a $500k system update of PICS this year.

What is wrong with this picture? Whether a dog license, business license or carry license it doesn't stop crime. One can drive into Harrisburg City, look for the hood rat with the two unlicensed Rottweilers and purchase an illegal gun from his illegal business and conceal the weapon as he walks away. The transaction takes under a minute to make.

Compare that to law abiding citizens buying a gun. I recently purchased a legal hand gun from a legal business with a background check. The background check took 45 minutes and time out of my day. These laws do not make people safe. It simply puts a premium on the price of guns and makes it more difficult for law biding citizens to exercise their God given rights. Meanwhile, five miles from where I live there is out of control crime. In Harrisburg, they ignore laws.

There may be a day that I become unlawful because of what was legal yesterday is illegal today. I prefer freedom and liberty over licensing and government control.

[ConservativeInPA]

provide a way for local elected school boards to set their own policy as opposed to having the policy set at the state level.

I mostly agree with you. I prefer policy to be set at the local level. However, there are certain policies that do not need to set. There isn't a need for any policy, laws or regulations when it comes to firearms for law abiding citizens. The way I was reading this is the state is requiring local school districts to establish policies for something that requires no policy - carry any thing, any where in any way desired. On the other hand, it allows school districts to institute policies that trump the 2a. (My personal opinion - I think all gun laws are unconstitutional.)

[William Tell]

billorites said: "I wouldn't describe licensing here in NH as a particularly arduous process."

It certainly wasn't very arduous when I got my non-resident NH permit some years ago. It was, however, in addition to the trouble I went to in order to get a Florida permit.

Since it was only $20 for the permit, I opted to get it rather than avoid traveling in New Hampshire. Since that time, they have raised the cost to $100 for a renewal. I've got better things to do with my money than provide for the slight possibility that I might visit New Hampshire again.

Most freedom-loving states will soon be following the examples of Vermont, Alaska, and Arizona in eliminating prior restraint on the bearing of arms. This will include all states which really believe in "Live Free or Die!".

[who knows what evil?]

Since that time, they have raised the cost to $100 for a renewal.

They brag 24/7/365 about 'no income tax, no sales tax' in this state, so they have to get the money from SOMEWHERE. (...and they do...tolls, car registration fees, inspection fees, meals and lodging tax, etc.)