Why even get a CCW permit?
For those of you who have already checked out our New Hampshire gun laws section, you know that the state allows for both open and concealed carry without a permit. New Hampshire still issues CCW permits (officially a “license to carry”) though, so license holders can use it to carry concealed in other states.Getting a License
It isn’t too difficult to get a license to carry (LTC), since New Hampshire is a shall-issue state. Basically it means that as long as you meet all the requirements and fill out the application correctly, you will be issued a license. There are some basic requirements to qualify for an LTC. The good news is that being a resident of New Hampshire isn’t one of them! Non-residents can apply for a New Hampshire LTC by applying to the director of the state police, and will have to meet the same requirements as residents. Residents of New Hampshire will need to apply to the selectmen, mayor, or chief of police of their town.How to Qualify
To actually qualify for the LTC, you must:- Be legally allowed to own a firearm (because, yeah..);
- Have a good reason to fear injury to yourself or property, or have a proper purpose.
- Have been been denied a CCW permit in New Hampshire or another state;
- Have been convicted of a felony that has not been annulled;
- Unlawfully use or are addicted to controlled substances;
- Have been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution by a court; or
- Have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.
The Waiting Game
Once you meet all the requirements, fill out the application, and provide the other documentation requested (photos, fingerprints, etc.), you’ll need to wait about 14 days for either the license to arrive in the mail, or a letter telling you why you were denied. If you were denied, the letter will contain the reasons for the denial, and also how to appeal the decision. Typically denials are because someone (hint hint) to provide the requested documentation. If it’s anything other than just filling out the application incorrectly, you may need to appeal the decision to your local court. If everything is fine, you will get an LTC instead, and the only thing you’ll need to do is remember to renew it every 5 years after that!Have Gun, Will Carry
Once you have your LTC, you will need to be careful where you carry it, just like you would even without the license. You cannot carry a firearm in a courtroom or area used by a court, including a courthouse, or any other areas directly connected to courtrooms, including the judge’s chambers, holding facilities, stairways, and waiting areas. Basically, if it seems like it is related to a courtroom or a room you would see in a courthouse, you will not want to bring your firearm in there. It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that any place with metal detectors are probably places you don’t want to be bringing your guns. If you happen to be going somewhere your gun is not welcome, you can always leave it in a gun safe in the car so it’ll be waiting when you get back.
Reciprocity
The whole point of getting an LTC in New Hampshire is to be able to carry when you’re out of state! Your LTC is recognized in:- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Colorado
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Michigan
- Missouri
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Utah
- Virginia
- West Virginia
- Wyoming
