CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The Republican-led House passed legislation Wednesday that would make it easier for people to carry hidden guns in New Hampshire, but Democratic Gov. Maggie Hassan plans to veto it.
The bill, sometimes known as “constitutional carry,” removes the licensing process for people who want to carry concealed firearms. Existing law requires anyone who wants to carry a concealed gun to get a license from local officials.
Supporters of the licensing requirement say it lets police keep potentially dangerous people from carrying concealed guns, while opponents say anyone who can carry a gun openly should have the right to conceal it.
Senators passed the bill in February. The House-passed version changes the language slightly to make it clearer that anyone prohibited from carrying a gun under state and federal law cannot carry one concealed. The Senate must accept that change before the bill goes to Hassan’s desk. Republican Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, the bill’s prime sponsor, supports the change.
“I hope the governor will embrace this right of New Hampshire citizens to protect their lives, liberties, and loved ones,” Bradley said in a statement.
Hassan said she will veto the legislation. Her comment came after a Wednesday morning meeting with the New Hampshire chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America. The president of the New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police also sent Hassan a letter Wednesday asking her to veto the bill.
“Our permitting system gives an important oversight role to local law enforcement, while allowing for appeals through appropriate channels,” Hassan said in a statement. “By passing (the bill), the legislature would be taking a step away from our tradition of common-sense gun laws.”
Under existing law, the application process allows police to determine whether someone is “suitable” to carry a concealed weapon. A police officer could, for example, reject someone with a drunken driving record or someone who has faced accusations of domestic violence. Anyone who is denied a license can appeal in court.
“There’s no compelling reason to end this law,” Democratic Rep. Geoffrey Hirsch said.
Republican Rep. Jeanine Notter argued that women should be allowed to carry concealed guns to protect themselves without having to obtain a license, just as they can carry a gun openly or in their homes without permission.
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