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RSA 159:6 · License to Carry

Title
XII: PUBLIC SAFETY AND WELFARE
Chapter
159 · PISTOLS AND REVOLVERS
Status
current
Official source linked
Yes
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159:6 License to Carry. –

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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.

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(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.

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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.

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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.

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Source note

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.

Source history

  • 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

Related materials

Bill relationships

  • 2026 HB1034 amend

    on school property. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Sections; Possession of Firearms on School Property. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after sections 159:19-a the following new sections: 159:19-b Possession of a Firearm on School Property. I. For the purposes of this section: (a) "School property" means all real property owned or l

  • 2026 HB1034-FN amend

    on school property. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Sections; Possession of Firearms on School Property. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after sections 159:19-a the following new sections: 159:19-b Possession of a Firearm on School Property. I. For the purposes of this section: (a) "School property" means all real property owned or l

  • 2026 HB1049 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    penalties for violations that will reduce the risk of an unsecured weapon falling into the hands of a minor, or a prohibited party. 2 New Section; Secure Firearm Storage. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 159:12-a Secure Firearm Storage Required. I. In this section: (a) "Commercial sale" means a transfer of ownership of a firearm listed or made available

  • 2026 HB1049-FN amend · effective 2027-01-01

    penalties for violations that will reduce the risk of an unsecured weapon falling into the hands of a minor, or a prohibited party. 2 New Section; Secure Firearm Storage. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 12 the following new section: 159:12-a Secure Firearm Storage Required. I. In this section: (a) "Commercial sale" means a transfer of ownership of a firearm listed or made available

  • 2026 HB1365 amend · effective 2027-01-01

    used by licensing authorities collects only the information required by law and does not compel applicants to waive rights not mandated by statute. 2 License to Carry. Amend RSA 159:6, I(b) to read as follows: (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 o

  • 2026 HB1454 amend

    mmunition. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Possession of Firearms in Violation of a Court Order. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 3-a the following new section: 159:3-b Possession of Firearms in Violation of a Court Order. Any person who possesses a firearm in violation of a court order requiring the immediate surre

  • 2026 HB1454-FN amend

    mmunition. Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened: 1 New Section; Possession of Firearms in Violation of a Court Order. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 3-a the following new section: 159:3-b Possession of Firearms in Violation of a Court Order. Any person who possesses a firearm in violation of a court order requiring the immediate surre

  • 2026 HB1642 reference · effective 2026-09-20

    ol, ownership, or possession of the respondent or any other person on behalf of the respondent, and any license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver issued to the respondent under RSA 159:6, for the duration of the protective order. The court shall require proof, which may be in the form of a verbal attestation under oath or sworn affidavit, that the respondent has surrendered any firearms or ammunition o

  • 2026 HB1642-FN reference · effective 2026-09-20

    ol, ownership, or possession of the respondent or any other person on behalf of the respondent, and any license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver issued to the respondent under RSA 159:6, for the duration of the protective order. The court shall require proof, which may be in the form of a verbal attestation under oath or sworn affidavit, that the respondent has surrendered any firearms or ammunition o

  • 2026 HB1793 amend · effective 2027-07-01

    ing citizens have the right to carry firearms without unnecessary government restriction. 3 New Subdivision; Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 27 the following new subdivision: Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses 159:28 Definitions. In this subdivision: I. "Non-lethal weapons" means pepper spray, mace

  • 2026 HB1793-FN amend · effective 2027-07-01

    ing citizens have the right to carry firearms without unnecessary government restriction. 3 New Subdivision; Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 27 the following new subdivision: Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses 159:28 Definitions. In this subdivision: I. "Non-lethal weapons" means pepper spray, mace

  • 2026 HB1829 reference

    632-A:2. (d) Arson under RSA 634:1. (e) Robbery as a class A felony under RSA 636:1, III[; or]. (f) Unlawful possession or sale of a firearm or other dangerous weapon under RSA 159. (g) Incidents resulting in physical harm, including simple assault under RSA 631:2-a, reckless conduct under RSA 631:3, criminal threatening under RSA 631:4, and student hazing under RSA 631:7. (h) Persistently poo

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