Gun rights will take center stage at the New Hampshire Statehouse on Thursday when Second Amendment backers push a bill that would loosen firearms regulations. <\/p>\n
Click here to view News 9s report. <\/p>\n
The state requires a permit for people to carry concealed pistols or revolvers. A bill sponsored by state Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, would eliminate that requirement. <\/p>\n
Supporters called the bill a common-sense change, but opponents said the change would hurt public safety. <\/p>\n
The hearing is expected to draw a crowd. <\/p>\n
This is actually a very simple change that would allow somebody to be able to carry a concealed weapon without a permit the same way that anybody today can carry openly any weapon theyre legally entitled to own, Bradley said. <\/p>\n
Gun rights activists are quick to point out the bill does not alter what the law says about who can own a gun. <\/p>\n
We havent changed anything. If youre not qualified to own a gun, you still cant own a gun and you still cant carry it concealed. So we havent changed anything other than to say that we know who you are, youre a good guy, why should you need to ask somebodys permission to do what you need to do to protect yourself and your family, said Bob Clegg, president of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. <\/p>\n
Second Amendment backers have complained about the two weeks it can take to get a permit, but opponents of the bill said the process works well and is not overly restrictive. <\/p>\n
New Hampshire is very lenient to begin with. For example, we dont have any restrictions on where you can carry a concealed weapon political events, bars, sports events, where tempers may run high, said Zandra Rice Hawkins of Granite State Progress. <\/p>\n
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\nBill aims to loosen NH firearms regulations<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"