New Hampshire gun owners will still need a permit to carry a concealed weapon, after the Republican-led state Senate failed Thursday to overturn a bill vetoed by Gov. Maggie Hassan.
The bill, SB 336, would have repealed the requirement for such a permit. The vote came along party lines, with Democratic Senators like David Watters voting to sustain Hassan’s veto.
“New Hampshire is continually rated one of the safest states in the nation and there is no overriding reason to make changes to our concealed carry law that has served us well for close to a century,” Watters said in a statement.
It takes 16 votes to override a gubernatorial veto in the 24-member state Senate, and while holding the majority, the support of the 13 Republicans members wasn’t enough.
“I am disappointed that the New Hampshire Senate failed to overturn the Governor’s veto of SB 336, which would allow for a broader definition of who is qualified to obtain a license for a concealed firearm in New Hampshire,” said Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley in a statement. “This legislation was an important first step in protecting every citizen’s Second Amendment right.”
