New Hampshire is one of the constitutional carry states in the USA. But the state still issues a gun license and has a shall-issue policy for the application of firearm permits. This means that the state is obliged to issue gun licenses to anyone that meets all requirements to apply provided by gun statutes. The processing of gun permits is overseen by local law enforcement offices for residents, and the state justice department for non-residents.

To purchase firearms from private individuals in the state, you do not need to complete a background check or register a firearm. The same applies to gun shows organized in the state. However, if you are purchasing from a federally licensed dealer, you need to complete a background check. Unlike some states in the USA, owning a pistol permit in New Hampshire does not automatically qualify your firearm purchases without completing a background check. However, there is no waiting period for completing the purchase of a firearm in New Hampshire. As soon as you meet all requirements, the sale is completed.

Possession of Firearms in New Hampshire

To open carry firearms in New Hampshire, you must be eighteen years old or more, and not have any prohibition for the possession of firearms, either federally or by a state government.

Like open carry, you can conceal carry in New Hampshire without a permit. But the state still issues licensed for reciprocity reasons. To apply for a gun license, unlike most states in the USA, you do not need a fingerprint. Also, the state does not require you to complete firearm training or pass a proficiency test before applying for gun permits. Because of permitless carry in New Hampshire, non-residents that are eighteen years old or more, and are legally liable to possess a firearm can do so without a permit. New Hampshire gun laws prohibit the possession of firearms in certain regions of the state, and these restrictions include both open and concealed carry.

In New Hampshire, you can possess firearms in a private car, without a pistol permit, as long as the person does not have a prohibition for the possession of weapons. You can also possess firearms in roadside areas of the state with or without a pistol permit.

New Hampshire gun laws allow the possession of firearms in state and national parks, forests, and wildlife management areas. And you can carry firearms in restaurant and bar areas of the state as long as there is no post prohibiting such.

New Hampshire allows private property owners in the state to regulate the possession of firearms within their premises. This applies to hotels, campgrounds, and similar lodging establishments. Every hotel in the state can come up with its privacy policy concerning the possession of firearms on its premises.

Because places of worship are private properties, they can have posts restricting the possession of firearms within the premises, or not. If they have posts restricting the possession of firearms within their territory, you will need permission from the management to either open or conceal carry firearms within the premises.

You can possess firearms while hunting in New Hampshire, but there are laws during hunting in the state that you must adhere to.

During a licensed bow hunting session, the license will only be for possession of a firearm while bow hunting, except the state or federal government, withdraws the permit. Also, nobody hunting deer can shoot or attempt to shoot at a deer with a firearm during bow hunting.

Places Where You Cannot Possess Firearms in New Hampshire

According to gun statutes in New Hampshire, you are prohibited from possessing firearms in certain regions of the state, regardless of if you won a pistol permit or not. Exceptions to these restrictions may only apply to law enforcement agents, military personnel, licensed hunters, and peace officers in the state. If you are found with firearms in these regions, the state may charge you to court.

  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in any elementary school premises or facilities.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in colleges and athletic fields used for professional sports, except the event is related to the use of a firearm.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry within any university facility, without gaining permission from the security head in charge.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in any building or facility that a law enforcement agency uses for their operations or administrative duties.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in any prison, jail, detention facility for criminals, or correctional home.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in a courtroom except if you are the judge, or you have permission from the judge to do so.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in any meeting for government entities.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in any legislative committee meeting.
  • You are not allowed to conceal carry in any enterprise that has a license to sell liquor for consumption within the premises.
  • You cannot conceal carry in any state hospital or health care home.
  • You cannot conceal carry anywhere that federal law prohibits the possession of firearms.

Application of New Hampshire Gun License

To apply for gun permits in New Hampshire, download and complete the application form. You can also visit your local county to pick it up, then, take the application form to a law enforcement office closest to your place of residence. This could be the mayor’s office or a local police chief’s office, the county Sheriff. If you are applying for a non-resident permit, you have to submit the permits and license unit in the state police department Other documents you have to provide are driver’s licenses and three reference forms.

Unlike most states, New Hampshire application process does not include the use of a fingerprint or a photograph. You will get a notification by mail stating if your application is denied or accepted.

The permit is valid for a period of five years, and you can commence your renewal application one month before the expiry date of your initial application. To renew, visit an online portal and download the renewal application. This is available for both residents and non-residents. Then submit your completed application form alongside your driver’s license and the three reference forms to the local law enforcement officials.

If you are a non-resident, submit to the same address you used for the application of the initial permit. You will get a notification mail if your renewal application is accepted.

The processing time for both permit application and renewal application is two weeks, and the price for a permit is ten dollars for residents and hundred dollars for non-residents.

For stolen or lost permits, write a letter to the state police department as soon as you realize that your permit is missing. A duplicate permit will be issued to you and you have to pay the cost of three dollars.

You can get a New Hampshire gun permit application as soon as you have a driver’s license or state identification card.

Requirements for the Application of Firearms in New Hampshire

New Hampshire is a shall-issue state for the application of gun permits. Your application will only be approved when you meet all the necessary requirements provided by gun statutes in the state.

  • You must be at least eighteen years old before the New Hampshire gun permit application.
  • You must be a legal citizen of the United States of America.
  • You must not be a fugitive or have an arrest warrant in your name
  • You must not be a convicted felon.
  • You must be mentally or physically impaired.
  • You must pass a New Hampshire concealed carry permit class.
  • You must not be a narcotic or user of illicit substances that are under the control of a drug enforcement agency in the state.
  • You must not have a court protection order in your name.
  • You must provide three references with their names and addresses.
  • You must provide your driver’s license number.
  • You must not have a court order restricting you from the possession of firearms.
  • You must not be under parole or probation.
  • You must not be a convict for any violent related crime.
  • You must meet all federal laws of the state that have to do with issuing a gun permit.

Is Constitutional Carry New Hampshire Allowed in All Parts of the State?

New Hampshire state government reserves all authority to regulate, prohibit, and restrict the use of firearms in all political subdivisions of the state.

New Hampshire preemption laws allow the state government to have all authority on the sales, possession, transportation, licensing, purchase, and taxation of firearms, ammunition, and their components.

This means that no local municipality, county, district, or political subdivision in the state can prohibit permitless carry. However, local areas may be allowed to regulate firearms for safety reasons within their jurisdiction. This can also include the restriction of firearms in certain parts of the area.

Additional Resources

New Hampshire Gun Laws
New Hampshire Concealed Carry Laws
New Hampshire Open Carry Laws
New Hampshire Gun Permit Laws

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