Governor Hassan's Veto Message Regarding HB 582

Press Release

Governor Maggie Hassan released the following message after today vetoing House Bill 582:

"By the authority vested in me, pursuant to part II, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution, on May 27, 2016, I have vetoed House Bill 582, repealing the license requirement for carrying a concealed pistol or revolver.

"As I said when I vetoed nearly identical legislation last year, New Hampshire's current concealed carry permitting law has worked well for nearly a century -- safeguarding the Second Amendment rights of our citizens while helping to keep the Granite State one of the safest states in the nation. It is a permitting system that gives an important oversight role to local law enforcement while ensuring that an appeal process is in place if a permit is denied, a law that Republican Governor Mel Thomson said was 'a sensible handgun law.' Not only has the current law worked well, I also continue to share the public safety concerns of law enforcement and citizens across New Hampshire about removing the protections that the licensing process offers.

"I also continue to support the Second Amendment and the right of Americans to responsibly own guns for personal safety, hunting, and recreation, but as the late Justice Antonin Scalia reaffirmed in the 2008 Supreme Court case of District of Columbia v. Heller, states also have the ability to responsibly and appropriately regulate the concealed carry of firearms.

"Nothing has changed since last year's attempt to repeal the license requirement for carrying a concealed firearm -- our current law continues to work well, public safety officials have the same concerns and the elimination of this responsible, common-sense law would still compromise the safety of our citizens. Therefore, I have vetoed House Bill 582."

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