Concealed Carry in New Hampshire

Yes. The former license requirement (RSA 159:4) was repealed effective February 22, 2017. RSA 159:6, III now states: 'The availability of a license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver under this section or under any other provision of law shall not be construed to impose a prohibition on the unlicensed transport or carry of a firearm in a vehicle, or on or about one's person, whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded, by a resident, nonresident, or alien if that individual is not otherwise prohibited by statute from possessing a firearm in the state of New Hampshire.' The statute does not set a separate minimum age for carrying.

Optional license to carry a loaded pistol or revolver. Residents apply to the selectmen of their town, the mayor or chief of police of their city (or a designated officer), or the county sheriff in listed cases; nonresidents apply to the director of state police. The issuing official 'shall sign and issue a license' if the applicant 'has good reason to fear injury to the applicant's person or property or has any proper purpose' and is not barred from possessing firearms; 'Hunting, target shooting, or self-defense shall be considered a proper purpose' (shall-issue). Valid 'for not less than 5 years from the date of issue.' Must be issued within 14 days. Fee: '$10' for residents and '$100' for out-of-state residents. No photograph or fingerprints are required unless the applicant asks. The statute sets no training requirement or minimum age.

Because New Hampshire allows anyone not prohibited from possessing a firearm, including a 'nonresident, or alien,' to carry openly or concealed without a license, a license from another state is not needed to carry in New Hampshire. For New Hampshire's own license, the director of state police 'shall negotiate and enter into reciprocal agreements with other jurisdictions to recognize in those jurisdictions the validity of the license' and must apply to every jurisdiction without an agreement at least once every 5 years.

No one may knowingly carry a loaded or unloaded pistol, revolver, firearm or other deadly weapon, 'whether open or concealed or whether licensed or unlicensed,' in a courtroom or area used by a court; class B felony. In a building used only by a court, this covers the whole building past the security point; in shared buildings, it covers courtrooms, jury and deliberation rooms, chambers, court staff areas, holding areas and connecting corridors. Firearms may be secured at the courthouse entrance. It is an affirmative defense if no notice was posted at each public entrance.

No license is needed: RSA 159:6, III says the license law does not prohibit 'the unlicensed transport or carry of a firearm in a vehicle ... whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded' by anyone not otherwise prohibited from possessing a firearm. Separately, employers that receive public funds may not prohibit an employee who may legally possess a firearm from storing it in the employee's locked vehicle on the employer's property if the firearm is not visible (RSA 159:27, effective January 1, 2025).