Your Help Is Needed ASAP to Pass House Bill HB-398

It is vitally important to get the current law (RSA-644:13) repealed. Target shooting is a part of New Hampshire’s culture and history. Unfortunately, as the state continues to grow, antigun sentiment also grow. We need to preserve New Hampshire’s unique culture of individual liberty and freedom which allows people to use their property. 

I recently received an alert from the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition concerning House Bill 398. This bill will repeal R.S.A. 644:13, an onerous law that requires anyone who wishes to discharge a firearm within certain areas, “compact part”, of a township to get written permission from their Chief of police or the town’s governing body. It is almost impossible to obtain this permission. Local anti-gun bureaucrats can refuse to grant you permission, without any reason, thus shutting down backyard ranges, even if there have previously been no complaints against the property owner.

The definition of a “compact part” of a town, as provided in the statute, is very complex and does nothing to keep people safe. Indoor shooting ranges are effe ctively outlawed except in a few very rare instances. Technically, anyone firing in self-defense (even in their own home) would become a criminal unless they were in a very remote area.

House Bill 398 eliminates this pointless ban by repealing RSA-644:13. The New Hampshire Firearms Coalition suggests we do the following:

1. Call or e-mail your Representatives and ask them to support HB-398. To find out who your Representatives are, call your town or city hall or go to www.gencourt.state.nh.us/whosmyleg/default.asp.
2. If you are not a member, consider joining, and encourage your friends to join, the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition (NHFC) and help preserve our rights. For a membership application, go to: www.nhfc-ontarget.org/Membership_Application.html.

We must remember that with the recent administration in Concord, N.H., as well as in Washing ton, D.C., there is a majority of anti-gun politicians who will do anything to destroy our Second Amendment rights at every chance they get. These next four years are going to be critical for protecting our First and Seco nd Amendment rights as law-abiding citizens. Unfortunately, there are many gun owners who are not members of either the NHFC or the NRA (National Rifle Association) and they should be. These two organizations are the fighters for our rights. Consider joining them today.

Bob Harris can be reached via e-mail at: outwriter2@aol.com

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DISCLAIMER:  The opinions expressed by Mr. Harris are not necessarily those of the Goffstown Residents Association or its members

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