New Hampshire Laws Relative to License to Carry
These below statutes can be found at RSA 159:6 et seq. and may be accessed at any legal library or at
http://www.nh.gov
. This is not intended to be an inclusive list of all relevant laws concerning carrying a concealed pistol or
revolver.
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 issue a license to such
applicant authorizing the applicant to carry a loaded pistol or revolver in this state for not less than 4 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, and that the applicant is a suitable person to be licensed. 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. The
original shall be delivered to the licensee and the duplicate shall be preserved by the people issuing the same for 4 years.
When required, license renewal shall take place within the month of the fourth 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 law enforcement department 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. 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.
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; 257:2. 1996, 167:2, eff. Aug. 2, 1996. 2003, 90:1, eff. July 29, 2003. 2009, 144:194, eff. July 1, 2009. 2012,
255:1, eff. Aug. 17, 2012.
159:6-b Suspension or Revocation of License. –
I. The issuing authority may order a license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver issued to any person pursuant to RSA 159:6
to be suspended or revoked for just cause, provided written notice of the suspension or revocation and the reason therefore
is given to the licensee. A licensee whose license has been suspended or revoked shall be permitted a hearing on such
suspension or revocation if a hearing is requested by the licensee to the issuing authority within 7 days of the suspension or
revocation.
II. When the licensee hereunder ceases to be a resident of the community in which the license was issued he shall notify in
writing the issuing authority at his new place of residence that he has a current license. Such license shall remain in effect
until it expires pursuant to RSA 159:6.
Source. 1979, 355:2, eff. Aug. 22, 1979.
159:6-c Appeal From Denial, Suspension, or Revocation. – Any person whose application for a license to carry a loaded
pistol or revolver has been denied pursuant to RSA 159:6 or whose license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver has been
suspended or revoked pursuant to RSA 159:6-b may within 30 days thereafter, petition the district or municipal court in the
jurisdiction in which such person resides to determine whether the petitioner is entitled to a license. The court shall conduct a
hearing within 14 days after receipt of the petition. During this hearing the burden shall be upon the issuing authority to
demonstrate by clear and convincing proof why any denial, suspension, or revocation was justified, failing which the court
shall enter an order directing the issuing authority to grant or reinstate the petitioner's license. The court shall issue its
decision not later than 14 days after the hearing on whether the petitioner is entitled to a license.
Source. 1979, 355:2. 1998, 380:2, eff. Jan. 1, 1999.