HB 1244 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2739

10/04

HOUSE BILL 1244

AN ACT relative to firearms possession while trapping.

SPONSORS: Rep. Ingbretson, Graf 5

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill clarifies that restrictions on firearms for checking traps does not apply to carrying of firearms for self defense.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2739

10/04

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT relative to firearms possession while trapping.

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

1 Fish and Game; Visiting Traps; Firearms. Amend RSA 210:13 to read as follows:

210:13 Visiting Traps. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, a person shall visit his traps at least once in each calendar day, provided, however, that a person trapping for beaver through the ice during the open season therefor, shall visit his traps once in each 72 hours. Trappers shall be permitted to use artificial lights during the hours of darkness to facilitate the checking of traps under this section, subject to the following restrictions: no person shall check traps at night by the use of a rifle, revolver, or pistol larger than a .22 caliber long rifle or by use of shotgun shells carrying shot larger than number 4 birdshot; and checking traps by the use of lights from a motor vehicle shall be prohibited. Provided that, the restriction on rifles, revolvers, pistols, and shotgun shells used to check traps shall not limit the trapper’s right to carry a firearm for self defense while trapping. Only a person whose name is either stamped or engraved on the traps or on a durable tag securely affixed to the traps shall have the authority to tend the traps. In case of an emergency, the owner of the traps may grant written permission to another duly licensed trapper to tend the traps.

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