Bill Text: NH HB544 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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Bill Title: Relative to state authority over firearms and ammunition.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 13-0)

Status: (Passed) 2011-06-09 - House Signed By Governor 06/07/2011; Effective 08/06/2011; Chapter 0139 [HB544 Detail]

Download: New_Hampshire-2011-HB544-Introduced.html

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HB 544 – AS INTRODUCED

2011 SESSION

11-0009

04/05

HOUSE BILL 544

AN ACT relative to state authority over firearms and ammunition.

SPONSORS: Rep. Jennifer Coffey, Merr 6; Rep. Welch, Rock 8; Rep. Jasper, Hills 27; Rep. Swinford, Belk 5; Rep. Simmons, Hills 17; Rep. Warden, Hills 7; Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Rep. Groen, Straf 1; Rep. Gagne, Hills 13; Rep. Kreis, Merr 6; Sen. Carson, Dist 14; Sen. Bradley, Dist 3; Sen. Boutin, Dist 16

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill adds knives to the list of firearms, ammunition, and firearms-related items over which the state has authority.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

11-0009

04/05

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT relative to state authority over firearms and ammunition.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Firearms and Ammunition; Authority of the State. Amend RSA 159:26 to read as follows:

159:26 Firearms [and], Ammunition, and Knives; Authority of the State.

I. To the extent consistent with federal law, the state of New Hampshire shall have authority and jurisdiction over the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, or other matter pertaining to firearms, firearms components, ammunition, [or] firearms supplies, or knives in the state. Except as otherwise specifically provided by statute, no ordinance or regulation of a political subdivision may regulate the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, or other matter pertaining to firearms, firearms components, ammunition, or firearms supplies in the state. Nothing in this section shall be construed as affecting a political subdivision’s right to adopt zoning ordinances for the purpose of regulating firearms businesses in the same manner as other businesses or to take any action allowed under RSA 207:59.

II. Upon the effective date of this section, all municipal ordinances and regulations not authorized under paragraph I relative to the sale, purchase, ownership, use, possession, transportation, licensing, permitting, taxation, or other matter pertaining to firearms, firearm components, ammunition, [or] firearms supplies, or knives shall be null and void.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.