[Posted Friday, October 21, 2011, at 9:30 p.m. -- updated Saturday, November 12, 2011, at 10:30 a.m.] Yesterday, the NH House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee passed, by a vote of 12 to 5, an amended version of HB536, the SECOND Constitutional Carry bill of this year. Constitutional Carry would allow concealed carry of handguns to anyone who can lawfully possess a firearm, without the need for a license or permit -- as has been the law in Vermont since 1903. Licenses would still be issued to those who want them for purposes of reciprocity with other states, as is the law in Alaska (since 2003), Arizona (since 2010), and Wyoming (this year).
First, a little history: Earlier this year, State Representative and PGNH Senior Advisor Jenn Coffey submitted Constitutional Carry bill HB330. This passed the committee and passed the full House (in March), but was sidetracked in the Senate through the politicking of Senator David Boutin, as reported earlier on this website. Similarly, Senator Boutin squashed the effort to incorporate HB330 into Senate Bill 88 (which passed the Senate, was vetoed by the Governor, but then passed over the Governor's veto by the legislature). HB330 is still retained in the Senate Judiciary Committee, where it could be considered to be held in reserve for possible passage later.
Meanwhile, the House Criminal Justice Committee had held HB536 in reserve, with the thought that it could be brought out and amended later if HB330 didn't make it. Most people thought that the original HB536 was a bit of an embarrassment, in that it included some extreme measures that would never succeed in the legislature, including allowing guns in courtrooms and calling for the arrest of any police officer who questioned anyone carrying. Well, the Criminal Justice Committee decided that now was the time to revive HB536, making suitable amendments to remove the extreme parts.
The Union Leader has published an article -- with lengthy reader comments -- about the bill at http://unionleader.com/article/20111021/NEWS07/710219987 .
The amended text of the bill is not yet available on the state website at the time of this posting, but we will let you know more shortly. [Update 11/12/11: the text of the amendment, submitted by Rep. Mark Warden of the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, is available at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/amendments/2011-2679H.html .]