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New Hampshire Open Carry Laws (2026)
Permitted: Open carry of a handgun is legal in New Hampshire without a license for anyone 18 or older who can lawfully possess one.
Official source: nhsp.dos.nh.gov →
General legal information, not legal advice — verify important decisions with a licensed attorney.
Open Carry in states bordering New Hampshire
The same rule in each neighboring state LawLert has verified, from that state’s own official source.
- MainePermitted
No permit is needed to openly carry a handgun in Maine if you may lawfully have a firearm, and the state has no general open-carry ban. Displaying a firearm in a threatening manner is a crime. State parks do not allow open carry, even with a permit. Courthouses and schools are off limits, as are licensed bars that post a ban.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: maine.gov · Full Maine rule →
- MassachusettsRestricted
A Massachusetts License to Carry (LTC) is required to carry a handgun in public, whether openly or concealed. Without one, carrying is punishable by 2.5 to 5 years in state prison, or 18 months to 2.5 years in jail, unless an exemption applies.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: mass.gov · Full Massachusetts rule →
- VermontPermitted
Open carry of a handgun is legal in Vermont without a permit for anyone who may lawfully possess one. Firearms are barred in some places, including school buildings, courthouses without court authorization, hospital buildings, and polling places on election day.
Verified Oct 12, 2026 · Source: dps.vermont.gov · Full Vermont rule →
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