Are firearms legal in New Hampshire?

Q: Are firearms legal in New Hampshire?

Firearms in New Hampshire are permitted. No permit is needed to carry a handgun in New Hampshire, openly or concealed. This applies to residents and visitors alike, as long as you are not prohibited from having a firearm. State law sets no minimum age for carrying, but federal law bars most handgun possession under 18, so 18 is the practical minimum. A New Hampshire license is optional.

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NEW HAMPSHIRE · FIREARMS

Firearms

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Permitted: No permit is needed to carry a handgun in New Hampshire, openly or concealed.

Permitted

Summary

No permit is needed to carry a handgun in New Hampshire, openly or concealed. This applies to residents and visitors alike, as long as you are not prohibited from having a firearm. State law sets no minimum age for carrying, but federal law bars most handgun possession under 18, so 18 is the practical minimum. A New Hampshire license is optional.

Source: nhsp.dos.nh.gov → · Updated October 12, 2026

New Hampshire Firearms topics

Concealed Carry in New Hampshire →Permitted
No permit is needed to carry a handgun in New Hampshire, openly or concealed.
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 New Hampshire law limits magazine capacity.
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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