Pro-Gun New Hampshire

Pro-Gun New Hampshire is a statewide organization of legislators, other public officials, and private citizens pledged to support and defend Second Amendment and sportsmen's rights within the state of New Hampshire. Our focus is on influencing state legislation through the personal relationships, honorable reputations, and mature conduct of our leadership and members.

Our original membership program continues to offer charter (lifetime) membership at no cost except for the purchase of a lapel pin, currently $5.00; there are no dues.

The organization was formed in early 2006 after an upheaval within Gun Owners of New Hampshire, described in the press release posted here. Four of the five founders of Pro-Gun New Hampshire, and four of our five Board members, were among the eight GO-NH Directors who left the 19-member GO-NH Board. State Representative Elbert "Bick" Bicknell, who had been the president of GO-NH, became the founding president of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. Sam Cohen, who had been a GO-NH Director since 2001 and its Legislative Liaison since 2002, proposed the name "Pro-Gun New Hampshire," designed the logo, and drafted the bylaws.

After all four legislators (and four others) left the GO-NH Board, the remaining GO-NH directors changed their bylaws to forbid legislators from serving on their Board. By contrast, we at Pro-Gun New Hampshire believe that the most important function of any pro-gun organization is to keep laws and regulations rights-friendly, and the best way to do that is to maintain close relationships with legislators and "work within the system." To this end, Pro-Gun New Hampshire has recruited gun-rights-friendly legislators, other public officials (including Chiefs of Police), and others respected by the state legislature to serve on its Board of Directors and Council of Advisors. Their contacts, friendships, and reputations help influence legislation. The Pro-Gun New Hampshire Board and Council members are listed here.

Both the organization and its members are committed to mature and honorable conduct in dealings with others, and this is codified in our Bylaws. Also, despite the history of its formation, Pro-Gun New Hampshire is not in competition with other gun-rights organizations. In fact, we encourage people to join Gun Owners of New Hampshire (www.gonh.org) and, especially, Second Amendment Sisters (www.2asisters.org).

Why Join Pro-Gun New Hampshire?

"Pro-Gun New Hampshire" is not just the name of an organization - it's a description of the state. Wear the Pro-Gun New Hampshire lapel pin proudly. Display it everywhere, TO TELL EVERYONE WHAT NEW HAMPSHIRE IS.

Thomas Jefferson is widely quoted as saying that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty." Despite the fact that self-defense is a fundamental human right, and despite mountains of evidence that both individuals and society in general are safer, freer, and better off when that right is respected, the anti-gun movement refuses to go away. It is especially important that New Hampshire, the state closest in spirit to the people who founded this country, proudly and firmly maintains the right to keep and bear arms that those founders so fiercely defended.

What Does Membership Involve?

As a member of Pro-Gun New Hampshire, you agree to support the purposes of the organization and abide by its Statement of Principles. Per the bylaws:

Article II: Purpose

The purpose of Pro-Gun New Hampshire shall be to preserve, protect, defend, and promote the Right to Keep and Bear Arms as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States and by the Constitution of the State of New Hampshire, and to preserve, protect, defend, and promote hunting, fishing, trapping, target shooting, gun collecting, historical reenactment, and the freedom to enjoy the outdoors.

Article III: Statement of Principles

Within Pro-Gun New Hampshire, all levels of the organization shall operate on the basis of honorable conduct, mutual trust, integrity, and fraternity.

We also ask for your email contact information, and from time to time may send email to notify you of important events. We WILL NOT reveal your identity to anyone outside the organization, per our bylaws.

IMPORTANT: Because a major purpose of Pro-Gun New Hampshire is to keep the pro-gun message in public view, MEMBERSHIP INVOLVES WEARING AND DISPLAYING THE PRO-GUN NEW HAMPSHIRE LAPEL PIN AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE -- in restaurants, when shopping, etc. (And especially at the State House!) Wearing the pin just at shooting ranges and gun shows is preaching to the choir. In a way, members should think of themselves as walking billboards; the lapel pin is designed to spread the word. (Note: When you show people the lapel pin, be sure to point out the Web address, underneath the eagle.)

[Update July 1, 2008: Vinyl BUMPER STICKERS are now available. They look just like the lapel pins, but they're four inches tall. The bumper stickers are an even better way to remind everyone that New Hampshire is pro-gun! Also, we now have TRIFOLD COLOR BROCHURES. Click here for information on ordering stickers and brochures.]

Please note that because there are no membership dues, the organization is not budgeted to mail printed newsletters, nor conduct membership meetings. Member communication is via the website.

How Do I Join?

Although other classes of membership will be offered later, we are continuing our initial membership program, offering charter (lifetime) membership at no cost except for the purchase of a lapel pin (currently $5.00) to anyone who:

1. Is not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, and who agrees to support the purposes of Pro-Gun New Hampshire and abide by its principles;
2. Submits an application which (per our bylaws) includes:
   -- name,
   -- mailing address,
   -- telephone number, and
   -- (if available) email address;
3. Purchases a Pro-Gun New Hampshire lapel pin ($5.00, including shipping and handling, as of 8/06; the price may change in the future) and agrees to wear it as much as possible; and
4. Is accepted by the Board of Directors.

Note that you need not be a resident of New Hampshire to join.

To apply for charter membership, just mail us your contact information (as per item 2, above), clearly printed on any reasonable kind of paper*, along with the lapel-pin fee; that information and the lapel-pin fee will be considered to be your application. By submitting this application, you certify that you are not prohibited by law from possessing a firearm, and that you agree to support the purposes of Pro-Gun New Hampshire and abide by its principles. (*For your convenience, you can print out and mail the membership application form linked here, which you may also wish to hand out to others.)

Please send it to:

Pro-Gun New Hampshire, Inc.
26 S. Main St., PMB 284
Concord, NH 03301-4809

Upon approval of your application by the Board of Directors, we will mail your lapel pin within one to two weeks, and will consider you a charter (lifetime) member of Pro-Gun New Hampshire.