On April 28, 2022, the New Hampshire Senate voted to pass House Bill 1636, which removes the ban on carrying loaded pistols and revolvers on ATVs and snowmobiles. The bill was passed on a voice vote at about 6:21:30 on this video of the New Hampshire Senate session.
The House passed House Bill 1636 on March 10 with a vote of 204 to 134, with 54 not voting.
New Hampshire passed Constitutional Carry five years ago in February of 2017. Several attempts have been made to remove the ban on ATV and Snowmobile carry, the last being in 2021. Governor Sununu vetoed that bill, HB 336, because it contained reforms of the NICS checks, now done by the New Hampshire State Police. In his veto message, he wrote he would sign a stand along bill to remove the ATV and Snowmobile carry ban. From the Governor's office in 2021:
I support the provisions in this bill that would apply our constitutional right to carry a firearm to OHRVs and snowmobiles, and hope to sign such a bill next year. It is unfortunate that the legislature chose to tack on unrelated legislation that will cause those provisions to not move forward.
As Governor, my record is very clear - I have consistently defended the 2nd amendment rights of New Hampshire's citizens and I remain committed to doing so. New Hampshire's laws are well-crafted and fit our culture of responsible gun ownership and individual freedom. The background check provisions are not about firearms rights, they are about government administrative processes. This bill, which was introduced to solve a problem caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, is no longer necessary. New Hampshire has taken steps to improve technology, processes, and staffing in order to address this issue without legislation.
House Bill 1636 is a simple stand alone bill which removes the current ban. From HB 1636:
1 Off Highway Recreational Vehicles; Loaded Firearms Prohibited. Amend RSA 215-A:20 to read as follows:
215-A:20 Loaded Firearms Forbidden. No person shall carry on an OHRV, or a trailer towed by same, any firearms unless said firearm is unloaded. This section shall not apply to law enforcement officers carrying firearms in the course of duty or to pistols or revolvers carried [under a permit issued pursuant to the authority of RSA 159] by any person who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm by a New Hampshire statute.
2 Snowmobiles; Loaded Firearms Forbidden. Amend RSA 215-C:35 to read as follows:
215-C:35 Loaded Firearms Forbidden. No person shall carry on a snowmobile, or a trailer towed by same, any firearms unless said firearm is unloaded. This section shall not apply to law enforcement officers carrying firearms in the course of duty or to pistols or revolvers carried [under a permit issued pursuant to the authority of RSA 159] by any person who is not prohibited from possessing a firearm by a New Hampshire statute.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect upon its passage.
There is plenty of time left in the legislative session for Governor Sununu to sign House Bill 1636. The bill was not amended in the Senate. It should go to his office shortly. There are administrative procedures which need to be done to insure the bill's accuracy and legality before it is transferred to the governor for signature.
©2022 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.
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