Officials weigh in on concealed carry licensing bill

While the compromise budget easily gained the two-thirds majority needed in both House and Senate to override Gov. Maggie Hassan’s veto, several other bills vetoed by the governor were less successful. Among them was SB 116, which would have allowed gun owners to carry weapons concealed without a permit. 

In her statement on the veto, Gov. Maggie Hassan cited “strong public safety concerns about allowing people to carry concealed guns without a license.” 

Supporters of the bill, including primary sponsor Sen. Jeb Bradley, argued it was “a common sense measure” and expressed concerns that the current system allows law enforcement officials to exercise arbitrary control over who may carry concealed. 

Sen. Bradley said that he would continue to bring similar legislation to the floor until the permit requirement was removed.