HB 194 – AS AMENDED BY THE HOUSE

5Jan2012… 2751h

2011 SESSION

11-0601

10/01

HOUSE BILL 194

AN ACT relative to the prohibition on having or carrying a loaded crossbow, rifle, or shotgun in or on a vehicle.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hoell, Merr 13; Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Rep. Kreis, Merr 6

COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources

AMENDED ANALYSIS

This bill revises a provision in the fish and game laws to allow having or carrying a loaded crossbow, rifle, or shotgun in or on a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, aircraft, or boat when the person is on such person’s own property, on private property where the person has written permission to be, is in a stationary vehicle or when in the process of the defense of oneself or a third person.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

5Jan2012… 2751h

11-0601

10/01

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Eleven

AN ACT relative to the prohibition on having or carrying a loaded crossbow, rifle, or shotgun in or on a vehicle.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Vehicles; Carrying Rifle or Shotgun. Amend RSA 207:7 to read as follows:

207:7 Hunting From Motor Vehicle, OHRV, Snowmobile, Boat, or Aircraft.

I. No person shall take or attempt to take wild birds or wild animals from a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile as defined in RSA 215-C:1, boat, aircraft or other craft propelled by mechanical power.

II. No person shall have or carry, in or on a motor vehicle, OHRV, snowmobile, or aircraft, whether moving or stationary, a cocked crossbow with a bolt in it, [a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun,] or a rifle or shotgun with a cartridge in [a magazine or clip attached to the gun] the chamber. A rifle or shotgun is considered unloaded when it does not have a cartridge in the chamber.

III. No person shall have in or on a boat or other craft while being propelled by mechanical power, or in a boat or other craft being towed by a boat or other craft propelled by mechanical power, a cocked crossbow with a bolt in it, [a loaded rifle or loaded shotgun,] or a rifle or shotgun with a cartridge in [a magazine or clip attached to the gun] the chamber. A rifle or shotgun is considered unloaded when it does not have a cartridge in the chamber.

III-a. The provisions of paragraphs II and III shall not apply in the case of a person having or carrying in or on such vehicle or craft a cocked crossbow with a bolt in it or a rifle or shotgun with a cartridge in the chamber on such person’s own property, on private property where the person has written permission to be, or in a stationary vehicle on private property, or when the person is in the process of the defense of oneself or a third person.

IV. The provisions of this section shall not apply to law enforcement officers carrying guns in the line of duty.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.