Court eases gun rules for out-of-staters
The New Hampshire Supreme Court has ruled that out-of-staters do not need permission from their home states to obtain concealed carry permits in New Hampshire.
In July 2013 the New Hampshire Department of Safety implemented new concealed carry rules that required nonresidents to show proof of a license to carry in their home state.
Scott Bach, a New Jersey resident applying for a concealed carry permit, challenged this rule. He argued that New Hampshire law only requires that an applicant "is a suitable person to be licensed." By requiring Bach to also be licensed in New Jersey, the Department of Safety was illegally applying New Jersey's gun laws (which are much stricter than New Hampshire's).
The state countered that it was reasonable to consider a nonresident's license as evidence of suitability, since a nonresident's state will have more knowledge of a person's background. Furthermore, anyone is allowed to carry an unconcealed firearm in New Hampshire, so the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms is preserved.
The Court sided with Bach, saying, "a nonresident applicant could provide the Department with sufficient information regarding his suitability in ways other than providing proof of a resident state license."
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