By Dean Weingarten
Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- In New Hampshire, Democrat Governor Maggie Hassan has promised to veto a near identical bill to the “Constitutional” carry bill that she vetoed last year. The measure is proving popular this year, with three more states being added to the “Constitutional” carry club. From unionleader.com:
CONCORD — Voting along party lines, the Senate Thursday repealed the requirement to obtain a concealed weapons permit, although the governor says she will veto the bill as she did last year.
House Bill 582 would allow anyone who can legally own a gun to conceal a loaded weapon.
Under current law, a person may carry a loaded weapon that is visible, but a permit is required to carry it concealed.
West Virginia, Maine and Idaho increased the number of “Constitutional” or permitless carry states to 10 this year. Nine have restored the right to carry a concealed weapon to the status that existed when the Bill of Rights was ratified on 15 December, 1791. Vermont has always had permitless carry, and has one of the lowest crime rates in the nation.
New Hampshire is now surrounded by states that have restored the right. New Hampshire’s requirement for a carry permit was passed about a hundred years ago as “progressive” ideas swept the nation. Those laws are being repealed as evidence accumulates that they did more harm than good. Opponents say that they are an infringement on Second Amendment rights. The New Hampshire Senate passed HB 582 14 to 10, along party lines. The bill passed the House in January, 206 to 146. Republicans voted for the bill, Democrats against.
With a promised veto, it seems unlikely that New Hampshire will reach “Constitutional” carry status this year. A Republican governor may be required to accomplish that. And that may be exactly what the legislature is pointing out.
There is no evidence that permitless carry leads to higher crime levels; there have been some studies that claim a statistically significant drop in violent crimes occurs when more people can legally carry weapons. Overall, the change in crime rates is small. “Progressives” appear to oppose the bill on the principle that government power should not be limited; conservatives, libertarians and constitutionalists approve of it because it shows that the Constitution can and should limit government power.
Those that trust the government are against the measure; those that trust the people are for it.
Trust in the people is on the rise; trust in the government is at record lows.
Vermont, plus the nine states that have restored “Constitutional” carry now make up 20% of all the states in the Union. They are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Wyoming. They extend from the Pacific to the Atlantic, and from the Canadian border to the Mexican.  They outnumber the states that cling to the outdated notion of “may issue” concealed carry permits.
A number of other states have “Constitutional” or permitless carry legislation in the works. Missouri has a bill that has passed the House.  “Constitutional” carry states could reach majority status in a few years.
©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
About Dean Weingarten;
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.
Vote this anti constitituon tyrant out of office
Restore freedom, throw out the Democrats.
Trying again… In 1791, if someone used a concealed weapon to kill his opponent then he was guilty of murder and was executed. If someone used an openly carried weapon and killed his opponent in an otherwise fair fight then he was guilty of manslaughter, which was pardonable, assuming that he was even prosecuted and a jury could be found that would convict him. There has never been a right under the Second Amendment to carry a concealed weapon for the purpose of self-defense with the possible exception of for travelers while actually on a journey. Even then, one could… Read more »
Can you read
the 2nd Amendment says bear not how you bear.
Yes, I can read and I have read the law on the use of concealed weapons which was in effect in both 1791 and in 1868 which are the two relevant dates for defining the Second Amendment right. You obviously have not. The First Amendment does not say that human sacrifice is prohibited because even simpletons in 1791 knew that there was no right to sacrifice human beings. Likewise, there was no need to say that the Second Amendment right to self-defense did not include secret/tactical surprise attacks with a concealed weapon because everyone knew that was murder. Here is… Read more »
She needs to understand that she HAS to sign it.
She HAS to.
please define Constitutional Carry…………
WHY IS IT that ALL dimocrap politicians are UGLY SHRILL HAGS like the crook HIllary Clinton?
Most Americans no longer have an appreciation of History, as they have little knowledge of it. Any 1st year Law student is well versed in the difference between the words Shall and May, so Reading Comprehension also comes into play. You would expect the Black Robed Magistrates to understand it better than most.
In writing to William Jarvis, Jefferson said, “You seem . . . to consider the judges as the ultimate arbiters of all constitutional questions; a very dangerous doctrine indeed, and one which would place us under the despotism of an oligarchy.”
The germ of dissolution of our federal government is in the constitution of the federal Judiciary; an irresponsible body (for impeachment is scarcely a scare-crow) working like gravity by night and by day, gaining a little today and a little tomorrow, and advancing its noiseless step like a thief, over the field of jurisdiction, until all shall be usurped.”
I at one time called New Hampshire proudly my home. We were God fearing Yankees with no sales tax or income tax. Then the commie masses from Massachusetts invaded trying to escape the system they created and have been ever since trying to turn this great state into a MA. annex. I now am living out my day here in Tucson a big Amen to that.
One spark from 2nd American Revolution and
These folks do not even know the final straw in the 1st
We the people have already beat back what was
the worlds mightiest army when they tried to take GUNS.
Good article Dean. Remember, the far left life controllers depend on negative news. It warps minds. So, it’s important, when we hear and remember, what we have accomplished. I read an article two days ago about suicide. It is on the increase. This has nothing to do with firearms, but, everything to do with what is going on in our country. Our country is at a historical low. Caused by corruption and decadence, in our own leaders. Lies and treachory are the norm. Prayers for our country. Prayers for Mike V.
mental health is the avenue to gun confiscation
The new world colonies began under a “may-issue” system but rejected it in 1776 and 1812. For our young nation, the “may-issue” system culminated in 1936 Nazi Germany by precipitating the ultimate rejection of such tyranny. Tyrants like Hassan are being elected by those who have forgotten or never knew the history of “may-issue” systems. Perhaps someone ought to add these lessons to the public school curriculum.
All of us should have the stinking right to carry as long as we have no record and can legally own a firearm! I moved from the communist state of md to va and that was one of the smartest moves I have ever made in my life. Getting out of that ghetto infested city known as baltimore, are you kidding me, my god what a $hit hole that place is people, stay away, unless you like wild black savages that will rob and attack you and the police are totally impotent to the problem!!!
define have a record!
Since she is not upholding her oath the uphold the constitution I think she should be empeached. It is about time we the people not matter in what state tell these idiots to uphold there oath of office or you will be fire for not doing so. So New Hampshire people get her out of office.