New Hampshire Revised Statutes
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6 (2024)
License to Carry
✓ 2024 N.H. RSA (Justia copy): later sessions are not included
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159:6 License to Carry. –
I. (a) The selectmen of a town, the mayor or chief of police of a city or a full-time police officer designated by them respectively, the county sheriff for a resident of an unincorporated place, or the county sheriff if designated by the selectmen of a town that has no police chief, upon application of any resident of such town, city, or unincorporated place, or the director of state police, or some person designated by such director, upon application of a nonresident, shall sign and issue a license to such applicant authorizing the applicant to carry a loaded pistol or revolver in this state for not less than 5 years from the date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear injury to the applicant's person or property or has any proper purpose, unless the applicant is prohibited by New Hampshire or federal statute from possessing a firearm. Hunting, target shooting, or self-defense shall be considered a proper purpose. The license shall be valid for all allowable purposes regardless of the purpose for which it was originally issued.
(b) The license shall be in duplicate and shall bear the name, address, description, and signature of the licensee and the name, title, and signature of the person issuing the license. The original shall be delivered to the licensee and the duplicate shall be preserved by the people issuing the same for 5 years. When required, license renewal shall take place within the month of the fifth anniversary of the license holder's date of birth following the date of issuance. The license shall be issued within 14 days after application, and, if such application is denied, the reason for such denial shall be stated in writing, the original of which such writing shall be delivered to the applicant, and a copy kept in the office of the person to whom the application was made. The fee for licenses issued to residents of the state shall be $10, which fee shall be for the use of the town or city granting said licenses; the fee for licenses granted to out-of-state residents shall be $100, which fee shall be for the use of the state. The director of state police is hereby authorized and directed to prepare forms for the licenses required under this chapter and forms for the application for such licenses and to supply the same to officials of the cities and towns authorized to issue the licenses. The form shall require no more information than was required on the state of New Hampshire application for pistol/revolver license, form DSSP 85, as revised in December 2009. No other forms shall be used by officials of cities and towns. The cost of the forms shall be paid out of the fees received from nonresident licenses.
II. No photograph or fingerprint shall be required or used as a basis to grant, deny, or renew a license to carry for a resident or nonresident, unless requested by the applicant.
III. The availability of a license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver under this section or under any other provision of law shall not be construed to impose a prohibition on the unlicensed transport or carry of a firearm in a vehicle, or on or about one's person, whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, by a resident, nonresident, or alien if that individual is not otherwise prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm in the state of New Hampshire.
I. (a) The selectmen of a town, the mayor or chief of police of a city or a full-time police officer designated by them respectively, the county sheriff for a resident of an unincorporated place, or the county sheriff if designated by the selectmen of a town that has no police chief, upon application of any resident of such town, city, or unincorporated place, or the director of state police, or some person designated by such director, upon application of a nonresident, shall sign and issue a license to such applicant authorizing the applicant to carry a loaded pistol or revolver in this state for not less than 5 years from the date of issue, if it appears that the applicant has good reason to fear injury to the applicant's person or property or has any proper purpose, unless the applicant is prohibited by New Hampshire or federal statute from possessing a firearm. Hunting, target shooting, or self-defense shall be considered a proper purpose. The license shall be valid for all allowable purposes regardless of the purpose for which it was originally issued.
(b) The license shall be in duplicate and shall bear the name, address, description, and signature of the licensee and the name, title, and signature of the person issuing the license. The original shall be delivered to the licensee and the duplicate shall be preserved by the people issuing the same for 5 years. When required, license renewal shall take place within the month of the fifth anniversary of the license holder's date of birth following the date of issuance. The license shall be issued within 14 days after application, and, if such application is denied, the reason for such denial shall be stated in writing, the original of which such writing shall be delivered to the applicant, and a copy kept in the office of the person to whom the application was made. The fee for licenses issued to residents of the state shall be $10, which fee shall be for the use of the town or city granting said licenses; the fee for licenses granted to out-of-state residents shall be $100, which fee shall be for the use of the state. The director of state police is hereby authorized and directed to prepare forms for the licenses required under this chapter and forms for the application for such licenses and to supply the same to officials of the cities and towns authorized to issue the licenses. The form shall require no more information than was required on the state of New Hampshire application for pistol/revolver license, form DSSP 85, as revised in December 2009. No other forms shall be used by officials of cities and towns. The cost of the forms shall be paid out of the fees received from nonresident licenses.
II. No photograph or fingerprint shall be required or used as a basis to grant, deny, or renew a license to carry for a resident or nonresident, unless requested by the applicant.
III. The availability of a license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver under this section or under any other provision of law shall not be construed to impose a prohibition on the unlicensed transport or carry of a firearm in a vehicle, or on or about one's person, whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, by a resident, nonresident, or alien if that individual is not otherwise prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm in the state of New Hampshire.
Source. 1923, 118:6. PL 149:6. 1941, 172:1. RL 179:6. 1951, 151:3. RSA 159:6. 1959, 100:1. 1967, 220:4. 1977, 563:76. 1979, 355:1. 1993, 27:1; 203:1. 1994, 257:1, 2. 1996, 167:2. 2003, 90:1. 2009, 144:194. 2012, 255:1, eff. Aug. 17, 2012. 2015, 124:1, eff. June 8, 2015. 2017, 1:1, eff. Feb. 22, 2017. 2018, 242:1, eff. July 1, 2018; 242:2, eff. July 1, 2019. 2024, 15:1, eff. July 13, 2024.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19
cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1976–2024 · leading case: Garand v. Town of Exeter, 977 A.2d 540 (N.H. 2009).
Garand v. Town of Exeter, 977 A.2d 540 (N.H. 2009). “): (1) dismissing his appeal from a decision of defendant Richard Kane, Chief of Police for defendant Town of Exeter, that denied the plaintiff a license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver (license to carry), see RSA 159:6 (Supp. 2008); and (2) denying his motion to introduce…”
Scott L. Bach & a. v. New Hampshire Dep't of Saf., 143 A.3d 246 (N.H. 2016). “See RSA 159:6 (Supp. 2015) (providing that a concealed-carry license “shall issue .”
Commonwealth v. Harris, 119 N.E.3d 1158 (Mass. 2019). “" 10 See N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6 . Although the Commonwealth afforded exceptions to nonresidents who possessed certain firearm and hunting licenses issued *1166 by other jurisdictions, see G.”
Drake v. Filko, 724 F.3d 426 (3d Cir. 2013). “3657 (3); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6 (I)(a); N.M.”
Bryan Range v. Attorney Gen. United States, 69 F.4th 96 (3d Cir. 2023). “§ 45-9- 101(2)(d); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6 (I)(a); N.C.”
Bryan Range v. Attorney Gen. United States, 124 F.4th 218 (3d Cir. 2024). “§ 45-9- 101(2)(d); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6 (I)(a); N.C.”
Bleiler v. Chief, Dover Police Dep't, 927 A.2d 1216 (N.H. 2007). “Licenses are issued pursuant to RSA 159:6 (Supp. 2006), which provides: The selectmen of a town or the mayor or chief of police of a city or some full-time police officer .”
Hightower v. City of Boston, 693 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2012). “§ 134-9(b)(2) (chief of police is to adopt procedures to grant licenses to carry concealed weapons to individuals who ”[a]p-pear to be a suitable person to be so licensed”); N.H.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 159:6(1) (license to carry a revolver or pistol may only be issued “if it appears…”
Chief of Police of the City of Worcester v. Holden, 26 N.E.3d 715 (Mass. 2015). “§ 134-9(b)(2); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6 (1); R.I. Gen.”
Silverstein v. Town of Alexandria, 843 A.2d 963 (N.H. 2004). “RSA 159:6, I (Supp. 2003) provides, in pertinent part, that a resident may apply to the selectmen of a town or a full-time police officer designated by them for a license to carry a concealed weapon.”
Kozerski v. Steere, 433 A.2d 1244 (N.H. 1981). “RSA 159:6 (Supp. 1979) provides in relevant part that the selectmen of a town, upon application of any resident of the town, “shall issue a license to such applicant authorizing him to carry a loaded pistol or revolver .”
Conway v. King, 718 F. Supp. 1059 (D.N.H. 1989). “King denied the application on the basis of Conway’s misdemeanor convictions in 1982.”
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6(1): 1 case
Hightower v. City of Boston, 693 F.3d 61 (1st Cir. 2012). “§ 134-9(b)(2) (chief of police is to adopt procedures to grant licenses to carry concealed weapons to individuals who ”[a]p-pear to be a suitable person to be so licensed”); N.H.Rev.Stat. Ann. § 159:6(1) (license to carry a revolver or pistol may only be issued “if it appears…”
N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6(I)(a): 1 case
Drake v. Filko, 724 F.3d 426 (3d Cir. 2013). “3657 (3); N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 159:6 (I)(a); N.M.”
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