Pro-Gun New Hampshire

[Posted Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at 11:00 a.m.]  The Right to Keep and Bear Arms refers to more than firearms.  As of May 18, when the governor signed HB1665 into law, it is now legal for people in New Hampshire to carry automatic knives -- "switchblades" -- as well as double-edged knives.

For almost forty years, New Hampshire law prohibited carrying any "stiletto, switch knife, ...dagger, [or] dirk-knife" (RSA 159:16); exceptions were made (per RSA 159:17) for police officers, for EMTs and military when on duty, and for "persons holding hunting or fishing licenses when lawfully engaged in hunting or fishing."  It was illegal, however, to carry such knives when going to or returning from a hunting or fishing trip or EMT or military duty.  Not only that, these knives could not be sold anywhere in the state, not even to police officers.

[Posted May 12, 2010, at 9:15 p.m.]  Please see earlier postings on this website for details on the bills cited below.  Note that everyone named below is an Advisor to Pro-Gun New Hampshire.

-- HB1665, Rep. Jenn Coffey's knife bill: passed both House and Senate; has Speaker's signature, on the way to the Secretary of State's office for transmittal to the President of the Senate for her signature, then on to the Governor. 

-- HB1161, Rep. Dan Eaton's bill to repeal the archaic statutes of RSA 159:8 and 159:10 (town license to sell pistols at retail): passed both House and Senate; will become effective 1/1/11, unless vetoed by the Governor.

-- HB1447, Rep. Dave Welch's bill about shooting in the compact area of a town:  passed the House, but voted ITL ("Inexpedient to Legislate") 5-0 by Senate Public & Municipal Affairs Committee on May 4; we don't know why.

-- HB160.  This started out as a "Stand Your Ground"/"Castle Doctrine" bill which didn't look as if it would pass (the Governor had vetoed a similar bill before), but it was successfully amended on the floor of the House by Rep. Dave Welch to become an excellent bill to decriminalize displaying a gun in self-defense ("...with the intent to warn away the person making the threat...").  Passed the House; voted OTP 5-0 by the Senate Judiciary Committee on May 6; passed the Senate today, May 12.

[Posted Thursday April 1, 2010, at 6:55 p.m.]  Yesterday, March 31, State Representative Jenn Coffey achieved a legislative victory when the New Hampshire state senate voted UNANIMOUSLY to approve her Knife Rights bill, HB1665.  Rep. Coffey and Senator Bob Letourneau, who helped her shepherd it through the senate, are both Advisors of Pro-Gun New Hampshire.  The bill will become law when the Governor signs it, expected this month.  Read the press release at http://www.knifelawonline.com/news-updates-new-as-of-3312010.html .

Further, the New Hampshire Wildlife Federation has voted to award Rep. Coffey with its "Friend of the Federation Award," to be presented at its annual banquet on April 10.  From the NHWF e-newsletter:

[Posted March 25, 2010, at 12:20 p.m.]  Here is the current status of gun bills in the New Hampshire legislature.

First, the good news:  HB1665, Jenn Coffey's Knife Rights bill, was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee on March 23 by a unanimous committee vote of 5 to 0; it had passed the House on February 17.  The full Senate will vote on the bill next Wednesday, March 31; if it passes, it will then go to the governor.

The bad news is that HB1693, the bill to repeal the December gun ban in the State House, failed in the House by a vote of 191 to 167 yesterday, March 24, largely on party lines.  As we reported earlier, last December the Joint Legislative Facilities Committee banned guns in the State House and Legislative Office Building (LOB).  See the Nashua Telegraph article at http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/news/statenewengland/684532-227/house-sends-gun-ban-repeal-packing.html .  If it's any consolation, the ban is just a rule and not a law, so you cannot be arrested for violating the rule, only asked to leave; you can be arrested, however, if you refuse to leave when asked.