Is firearms legal in New Hampshire?

Q: Is firearms legal in New Hampshire?

Firearms in New Hampshire is permitted. New Hampshire has had permitless carry, also called constitutional carry, since February 2017: no license is needed to carry openly or concealed for anyone 18 and older who can lawfully possess. Optional licenses are available, and the minimum age is 18.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE · FIREARMS

Firearms

Permitted: New Hampshire has had permitless carry, also called constitutional carry, since February 2017: no license is needed to carry openly or concealed for anyone 18 and older who can lawfully possess.

Permitted

Summary

New Hampshire has had permitless carry, also called constitutional carry, since February 2017: no license is needed to carry openly or concealed for anyone 18 and older who can lawfully possess. Optional licenses are available, and the minimum age is 18.

Source: https://www.nhsp.dos.nh.gov/our-services/justice-information-bureau/permits-and-licensing/pistol-and-revolver-licensing · Updated July 12, 2026

New Hampshire Firearms topics

Concealed Carry in New Hampshire →Permitted
New Hampshire has had permitless carry, also called constitutional carry, since February 2017: no license is needed to carry openly or concealed for anyone 18 and older who can lawfully possess.
Open Carry in New Hampshire →Permitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal in New Hampshire without a license for anyone 18 or older who can lawfully possess one.
Magazine Capacity in New Hampshire →Permitted
No state law limits magazine capacity in New Hampshire — standard-capacity and high-capacity magazines are legal to buy and possess under state law.
Gun Possession in New Hampshire →Permitted
New Hampshire has no red-flag law (also called an Extreme Risk Protection Order, or ERPO), and no assault-weapon ban or state limit on magazine capacity.
Transporting Firearms in New Hampshire →Permitted
In New Hampshire, anyone 18 or older who is not prohibited may carry a loaded handgun in a private vehicle without a license or permit.
Duty to Inform Police in New Hampshire →Info
New Hampshire has no duty to inform and no license-display statute: RSA Chapter 159 contains no provision requiring a carrier to notify an officer or to present a license.
Suppressors & Silencers in New Hampshire →Conditional
Suppressors are legal in New Hampshire, which has no ownership-ban statute, once you complete the federal National Firearms Act (NFA) process.
Reciprocity — where is my New Hampshire permit honored? →
State-by-state map of which states honor a New Hampshire concealed-carry permit.

Other New Hampshire laws

Firearms in nearby states

Browse all state laws →

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