Open Carry in New Hampshire
Whether open carry is legal in New Hampshire, any permit or age rules, and where it is banned.
Short answer: Allowed without a license for anyone not prohibited from possessing a firearm: RSA 159:6, III says the license law does not prohibit unlicensed carry 'whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded.' Open or concealed carry is banned in courtrooms and areas used by a court (RSA 159:19). RSA 159:6, III; 159:19; 159:26
| Open carry | Allowed without a license for anyone not prohibited from possessing a firearm: RSA 159:6, III says the license law does not prohibit unlicensed carry 'whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded.' Open or concealed carry is banned in courtrooms and areas used by a court (RSA 159:19). Cities and towns may not regulate firearm possession or carrying except as specifically allowed by statute (RSA 159:26). Source: RSA 159:6, III; 159:19; 159:26 |
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| Guns in your car | 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). Source: RSA 159:6, III; 159:27 |
| Where guns are banned | 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. Under RSA 193-D:2, the state board of education must require expulsion of a pupil who knowingly possesses a firearm in a safe school zone without authorization; no general state criminal ban on adults carrying on school property was found in the sections read. Source: RSA 159:19 |
More New Hampshire gun laws
- Concealed Carry in New Hampshire
- Buying a Gun in New Hampshire
- Red Flag Law and Weapon Limits in New Hampshire
- All New Hampshire gun laws rules
FAQ
Is open carry legal in New Hampshire?
Allowed without a license for anyone not prohibited from possessing a firearm: RSA 159:6, III says the license law does not prohibit unlicensed carry 'whether openly or concealed, loaded or unloaded.' Open or concealed carry is banned in courtrooms and areas used by a court (RSA 159:19). Cities and towns may not regulate firearm possession or carrying except as specifically allowed by statute (RSA 159:26).
Can you keep a gun in your car in New Hampshire without a permit?
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).
Where can't you carry a gun in New Hampshire?
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.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.