New Hampshire State Law Summary

Last updated January 10, 2012

In its publication Gun Laws Matter: A Comparison of State Firearms Laws and Statistics, LCAV ranked each state based on a review of state laws in 25 different firearms-related policy areas. New Hampshire ranked 25 out of 50 – having enacted few gun violence prevention laws. New Hampshire:

• Requires handgun dealers (but not dealers in rifles and shotguns) to obtain a state license; and

• Performs its own background checks for handgun sales (but not sales of rifles or shotguns) from licensed dealers.

However, New Hampshire does not, among other things:

• Require a background check prior to the sale of any firearm from an unlicensed individual;

• Prohibit the transfer or possession of assault weapons, 50 caliber rifles or large capacity ammunition magazines;

• Require that mental health information be reported for use in firearm purchaser background checks;

• Require firearm owners or purchasers to obtain a license;

• Require the registration of firearms;

• Allow local governments to regulate firearms or ammunition; or

• Provide local law enforcement with discretion to deny a license to carry firearms.

Based on data published by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, in 2009, New Hampshire had the ninth highest ratio of crime gun exports to imports per capita among the states. New Hampshire exported more than three times as many crime guns as it imported, and was the top supplier of crime guns to Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont.

For details about specific firearms laws in New Hampshire, choose a topic below.

Overview State "Right to Bear Arms" Statistics Local Authority to Regulate Firearms
State Firearms Policies Persons Prohibited from Firearm Possession Prohibited Purchasers Generally Minimum Age to Purchase / Possess Domestic Violence & Firearms Disarming Prohibited Persons Sales & Transfers Background Checks Mental Health Reporting Multiple Purchases / Sales of Firearms Retention of Sales / Background Check Records Waiting Periods Gun Dealers & Other Sellers Dealer Regulations Private Sales Gun Shows Immunity Statutes Gun Owner Responsibilities Licensing of Gun Owners / Purchasers Registration of Firearms Reporting Lost or Stolen Firearms	Firearms in Public Places Concealed Weapons Permitting Open Carrying Location Restrictions Guns in Vehicles Guns in Schools Other Location Restrictions Consumer & Child Safety Design Safety Standards for Handguns Locking Devices Personalized / Owner-Authorized Firearms Child Access Prevention Classes of Weapons / Ammunition Assault Weapons Large Capacity Ammunition Magazines Fifty Caliber Rifles Machine Guns / Automatic Firearms Non-Powder Guns Ammunition Regulation Investigating Gun Crimes Microstamping / Ballistic Identification Trafficking
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