By the authority vested in me, pursuant to part II, Article 44 of the New Hampshire Constitution, on July 26, 2010, I vetoed HB 1161.

HB 1161 would repeal the ability of New Hampshire cities and towns to license persons who are engaged in the business of retail sales of firearms.

Since 1991, under RSA 159:8, cities and towns have had the authority to decide whether or not to require individuals who sell pistols, revolvers and firearms at retail to obtain a local license. This license serves several purposes, including identification of retail gun sellers who might not be subject to federal firearms licensing requirements. Current law imposes on retail firearms sellers a requirement to know the identity of the person purchasing a gun, or to obtain clear evidence of their identity, including whether the purchaser has been convicted of a felony.

While other state and federal laws prevent any person in New Hampshire from selling a firearm to a convicted felon, it does not seem necessary to take away the authority of municipalities – authority the state has granted for nearly twenty years – to license local retail sellers of firearms. The New Hampshire Association of Chiefs of Police have raised with me public safety concerns with taking away the local licensing authority, and have strongly urged that this bill not become law. For these reasons, and my view that changes to New Hampshire’s gun laws are not needed, I am vetoing this bill.