Pro-Gun New Hampshire -

Major self-defense bill signed into law

Sam Cohen — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 16:04:36 -0500

[Posted Tuesday August 24, 2010, at 5:00 p.m.] Current New Hampshire law -- RSA 627:4 -- says that you if you are attacked in your home, you have no "duty to retreat." HB160 started out as a "castle doctrine" bill, expanding the places where you had no duty to retreat to include anywhere you had a right to be. Unfortunately, the governor had vetoed a similar bill not long ago, and it was felt that this bill also was destined for failure. Then Representative David Welch, a senior Advisor of Pro-Gun New Hampshire, submitted a successful amendment on the floor of the House to change the bill into something better: the bill now said that displaying a gun or other weapon in a self-defense situation is not a crime, if you do so to warn off an attacker. Again, anti-gun forces were pressuring the governor to veto the bill. This time, however, the governor spoke with Pro-Gun New Hampshire president Bob Clegg -- three times (!) -- and Bob's common-sense reasoning won him over. On July 23, HB160 was signed into law, effective the first of next year.

Governor vetoes our bill

Sam Cohen — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 10:21:08 -0500

[Posted Tuesday, July 27, 2010, at 11:25 a.m.] After the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police mounted last-minute opposition, Governor Lynch vetoed our bill, HB1161. Sponsored by Pro-Gun New Hampshire Advisor Dan Eaton, the House majority floor leader, this bill would have repealed an obsolete law requiring a town license to sell handguns at retail -- in addition to a Federal Firearms License. The Union Leader article is at http://www.unionleader.com/article.aspx?headline=Governor+vetoes+gun-sales+license+bill&articleId=991df859-80d7-40d3-8ee0-25148ee2166e

Obamacare’s Hidden Gun Control

Sam Cohen — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 19:24:55 -0500

By E.F. Nappen, Esq.
General Counsel and Board Member, Pro-Gun New Hampshire, Inc.

[Posted Saturday, July 24, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. This updates the version posted 7/23.] Effective January 1, 2012, the national healthcare legislation passed by Congress contains tax provisions that will require gun dealers to report to the IRS their purchases of guns and any other goods valued over $600. This reporting will be required for purchases from either individuals or corporations. The new IRS provisions apply to all goods and services. IRS 1099 forms will have to be filed, reporting the purchase by the gun dealer. (This same IRS issue exists for gold and silver bullion dealers, coin dealers, knife dealers, car dealers or any other business that buys goods from a person.)

It applies to all businesses who buy from "persons." If you sell your gun for over $600 to an FFL, the FFL must send in a 1099 on you which reports the sale by you to the IRS. It is not simply a "business to business" reporting requirement. (Which, even if it was, would still be bad for business.)

Nottingham was not special; New Hampshire trusts people to be armed

Sam Cohen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:06:30 -0500

[Posted July 22, 2010, at 1:15 p.m.] Recently, newspapers, radio, and television have reported that the town of Nottingham, New Hampshire, adopted a new policy allowing town employees to be armed when at work. The public response has been varied across the country, with some receiving it as startling, even disturbing, news. Yet here in New Hampshire we have always respected the rights of law abiding citizens to keep and bear arms, and in times like the present, people take those rights seriously.

The constitutions of both the United States and the State of New Hampshire guarantee each of us the right to keep and bear arms, and we believe those who drafted the constitutions meant for us to have the right to bear arms for our own individual defense, because government cannot protect every person at every moment.

We here at Pro-Gun New Hampshire wish to share with the rest of the country New Hampshire state law RSA 159:26, which reads in full:

-----

I. To the extent consistent with federal law, the state of New Hampshire shall have authority and jurisdiction over the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, or other matter pertaining to firearms, firearms components, ammunition, or firearms supplies in the state. Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, no ordinance or regulation of a political subdivision may regulate the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, or other matter pertaining to firearms, firearms components, ammunition, or firearms supplies in the state.

read more

Pro-Gun New Hampshire leaders honored at BLADE show in Atlanta, Georgia

Sam Cohen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 11:13:46 -0500

[Posted Tuesday, June 8, 2010, at 12:30 p.m.] New Hampshire State Representative Jennifer Coffey, a senior Advisor of PGNH, and attorney Evan Nappen, PGNH General Counsel and Director, were presented with awards at the BLADE show last week in Atlanta, Georgia.

Left: Alan Gura (lead attorney on the Supreme Court's Heller case); Rep. Jennifer Coffey; Doug Ritter (Chairman of Knife Rights, Inc.); attorney Evan Nappen (PGNH General Counsel and Director)
read more

Huge Second Amendment victory in New Hampshire -- Thanks to PGNH leaders Rep. Jennifer Coffey and attorney Evan Nappen

Sam Cohen — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 09:58:15 -0500

[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.

read more

Pro-Gun New Hampshire elects new president

Sam Cohen — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:26:53 -0500
[Posted May 12, 2010, at 9:30 p.m.] The Pro-Gun New Hampshire Council of Advisors met last night and elected a new president of the organization. Former State Representative Elbert "Bick" Bicknell was the first president, with his first two-year term starting when the organization was formed in the spring of 2006; he was reelected in the spring of 2008, but now lives in Arizona.
The Council of Advisors elected former State Senator and Senate Majority Leader Bob Clegg as our new president. Bob, who is now a registered lobbyist, will be active within the State House in advancing our cause.

After the presidential election, the PGNH Board of Directors met and voted to keep Bick on the Board as past president; since most internal business is conducted by email, Bick can remain an active contributor to managing the affairs of the organization. Director Ed Naile, whose work as chairman of the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers keeps him very busy, agreed to leave the Board and assume the position of Advisor. Therefore, the Board of Directors now consists of the following five Directors: The Honorable Bob Clegg, President; Sam Cohen, Executive Vice President and CEO; Hon. Bick Bicknell, Past President; Evan Nappen, Corporate Counsel; and Richard Aldrich, Director.

read more

State Legislative Review May 12, 2010

Sam Cohen — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:16:45 -0500

[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.
read more

New Hampshire Gun Shop Finder

Sam Cohen — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 21:00:18 -0500
[Posted April 25, 2010, at 10:00 p.m.] Click on the Links menu item, above; we've added a link to a web page that will locate a licensed gun dealer (FFL) within a given radius (5, 10, 25, 50, or 100 miles) of your ZIP code.

Rep. Jenn Coffey wins a home run in the Senate and the Wildlife Federation award!

Sam Cohen — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 18:00:48 -0500

[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:
read more