Tagged: A Loaded Issue

Recently, NHPR examined the impact of the firearms industry on the state's economy.  Especially now, with gun sales at historic highs, this subset of New Hampshire's manufacturing industry is benefiting.  Looking at federal firearms manufacturing licenses, we've pinpointed where the state's firearms manufacturers are located.

In 2011, New Hampshire lawmakers passed the so-called Stand Your Ground Law. The state has seen controversy over the law, with some calling for its repeal. Many states have had similar laws on the books for years now, and we talked with Associate Professor Mark Hoekstra of Texas A&M University about research on trends in those states. I started by asking him what the research specifically looked at.

As part of NHPR's news series, A Loaded Issue, we’re asking Granite Staters to weigh in with their thoughts about gun ownership, laws governing guns, and the culture here.

Each day we'll ask a new discussion question and throughout the week we'll read your comments on the air.

Today's Question:  Should N.H. Repeal Its 'Stand Your Ground' Law?

Please include your first name and your hometown.

For many rural residents of New Hampshire, owning a gun is not a political statement; it’s a tool, or a form of recreation. Even for some non-gun-owning neighbors, the idea that others have guns for hunting or target shooting is pretty non-controversial. And what’s more, the data available indicate that in New Hampshire that rural gun-culture only seems to be growing.

The number of machine guns still in circulation is small compared to handguns or rifles, but federal data shows that New Hampshire is home to more machine guns per capita than any other state – about 9800 registered machine guns in all, or 7.47 machine guns per 1000 people.

New Hampshire is bordered by Vermont, which has the least gun regulation in the nation -- and Massachusetts, which has some of the tightest gun restrictions around.  After the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT, we put together this infographic, exploring the diversity of gun laws among our neighbors. 

[Note: While the information has not changed, some of the wording has been updated for better clarity. Click the image to read at full size.]