New Hampshire Senate Passes Constitutional Carry Reform

New Hampshire has always been a state that seemed likely to be one of the first to pass constitutional carry, which allows people who may legally own guns to carry them either openly or concealed without a permit. While attempts have been made in the past several years, various mishaps have resulted in no bill being passed.  Sister state Vermont has the longest border with New Hampshire, and Vermont has had constitutional carry since 1791, and one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.

This year House Bill 582 was killed in the criminal justice committee, and it looked as if constitutional carry reform would take at least another year.

But Senate Majority leader, Jeb Bradley sponsored a constitutional carry bill, SB 116. It passed the Senate, 14-9. It passed the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee 10-6. It seems likely to pass the whole House.  Here is the analysis of SB116:

This bill:
I. Increases the length of time for which a license to carry a pistol or revolver is valid.
II. Allows a person to carry a loaded, concealed pistol or revolver without a license unless such person is otherwise prohibited by New Hampshire statute.
III. Requires the director of the division of state police to negotiate and enter into agreements with other jurisdictions to recognize in those jurisdictions the validity of the license to carry issued in this state.
IV. Repeals the requirement to obtain a license to carry a concealed pistol or revolver.

The reform is unlikely to become law, however, because Governor Maggie Hassan, a lifelong Democrat, has been coy about commenting on the bill. I believe that her veto of the bill is likely. Her comment is of the standard non-support type - "I support the Second Amendment, but". From the unionleader.com:

"I support the Second Amendment," she told reporters last week, "but (this bill) raises some serious issues."

Hassan is a little shy about being a Democrat.   Her Governor's website does not identify her party affiliation.    The wikipedia article reveals that she is a lifelong Democrat from a lifelong Democrat family.

However, Hassan seems to be a practical politician.  If she gets lots of grassroots pressure to sign the bill, she just might do so.    It does not seem likley that she will, and the majority in the Senate is just short of being able to override a veto.

If she vetoes the bill, it will be clear that she is a supporter of the second amendment in name only.  Perhaps showing voters that side of her is one of the major purposes of this bill.

©2015 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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