Liberty in Our Lifetime

We don’t want to wait decades for most is most American citizens to realize that the nanny state is an insult to their dignity. For those of us who already understand the debilitating effects of a government bent on reducing liberty rather your life than increasing it, the Free State Project offers the potential for real liberty within our lifetimes. The project aims at the achievable goal of liberty in a single state where all can live free.

Dick Heller (of DC vs. Heller fame) is a Free-Stater!

How would your life change in a free state?

"All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state." -- New Hampshire Constitution Article 2-A

In New Hampshire, you can buy any gun without a permit to purchase (except for a machine guns; New Hampshire does not regulate machine gun possession, but federal law does).  You may carry a pistol openly anywhere except courtrooms without a license.  Should you choose to conceal, the license is shall-issue and by law must be issued to you within 14 calendar days of your application.  The license costs $10 and is good for 4 years.  There is no central database of concealed carry license holders in New Hampshire.  Each individual locality keeps their own records.

For more information, see Free State Blogs' Frequently asked questions regarding gun laws. 

Also see this video about Free Staters helping each other build a gun range.  You can see the finished product in this video.

Progress

2008

In 2008, the New Hampshire legislature defeated a bill to ban guns in the state house.  The vote was 279-19 in favor of maintaining the rights of individuals to carry in the state house.  Individuals may still carry openly in the state house without a license or concealed with a license.  Can you carry in your state house?

The most amazing thing about this story is how many people showed up to protect their rights.  The public hearing was packed to the rafters and Representative Kjellman (D-Henniker) - the sole sponsor of the bill - was the only person in the packed room to speak in favor of the bill.  Dave Ridley has coverage of this show of force.  -- Part 1 -- Part 2 -- Part 3 --

Anti-gun Rep. Kjellman subsequently lost her Democratic primary race.  Apparently no one sent her the memo: even among Democrats, gun control does not fly in New Hampshire.

The same message was sent when 500-600 gun owners packed the state house to protect their gun rights and watch the senate judiciary comittee unanimously reject a bill that would have weakened New Hampshire's carry law.  Coverage here. 

2006

Free-Stater David Ridley believes strongly in the importance of the Second Amendment of the US Constitution, and the stronger and more clearly-worded New Hampshire Constitution. Dave was troubled by news reports that, in the wake of hurricane Katrina, various government agencies confiscated guns from law-abiding people -- at precisely the time when they needed most to defend themselves from looters.

Dave contacted several 2nd-Amendment groups in New Hampshire, and he engaged the legislature. Inspired by his lead, the New Hampshire Senate proposed SB 348: "prohibiting the taking of arms and ammunition in a declared state of emergency."

Separately, a bill was introduced (SB 318-FN) allowing "a person who is in any place where he or she has a right to be to use deadly force to protect oneself."

As you can imagine, both these bills generated much public debate. Free-Staters joined the New Hampshire natives in writing Letters to the Editor, testifying before the House and Senate, and contacting our Representatives and Senators.

In the end, both these bills passed the House and Senate.

The "Katrina bill" was signed into law by the Governor on May 15 2006.
Unfortunately, the "Deadly Force bill" was vetoed by Governor. Nevertheless, in New Hampshire you can still use deadly force to defend yourself or another person.

2004

New Hampshire continues its progress on the issue of gun rights. In January, 2004, the New Hampshire Senate passed a bill that would lift the requirement for a state license to carry a concealed firearm!

In a free state...

• Your 2nd Amendment rights mean something.
• You don’t have to ask permission to carry your firearm concealed or openly. No state issued permit will be necessary.
• You don’t have to get a background check for a private sale including at gun shows.
• You are free to possess any firearm of your choice, and any accessory of your choice.
• You are not required to pay a license fee, be fingerprinted, give a DNA sample, or be treated like a criminal – to get a permit for self defense.
• You can lawfully defend your property and family.
• You can teach your children about firearm safety at school and at home.
• Local jurisdictions will not participate in Federal fishing expeditions that seek to prosecute "technical violations" of arcane federal firearm regulations. The anti 2nd Amendment "Project Safe Neighborhoods" will be banned.
• Gun owners are innocent until proven guilty.
• No ammunition taxes, no licensing fees, and no sales tax means more money in your pocket.
• Your friends visiting from another state will enjoy the sensation of freedom too.
• State laws will never be more restrictive than Federal laws.
• Possession of clips, speed loaders, magazines, gun cases, and other paraphernalia will not itself be sufficient “probable cause” for a stop and search by police.
• Your firearms will not be seized unless a crime has been committed.
• There are no “bad guns”. Inanimate objects will not be prosecuted, nor will they be used to convict individuals exercising their inalienable rights.
• Law enforcement officers will not enjoy preference in court testimony.
• Juries will be fully informed of their right to judge the law and the prosecution, as well as the accused.

Order Here

This is the first and only comprehensive book covering New Hampshire laws (or lack of laws) on guns, knives and weapons.