Revision: Dec. 21, 2011, midnight
HB 1555 – AS INTRODUCED
2012 SESSION
10/04
HOUSE BILL 1555
AN ACT relative to the penalty for firearm use in a state area for propagation of game controlled by the fish and game department.
SPONSORS: Rep. Seaworth, Merr 7; Rep. Comerford, Rock 9; Rep. Itse, Rock 9; Rep. Kreis, Merr 6; Rep. Antosz, Rock 9; Rep. Bowers, Sull 3; Rep. Proulx, Hills 15; Sen. Forsythe, Dist 4
COMMITTEE: Fish and Game and Marine Resources
This bill requires that the penalty for possession of a firearm in a state fish and game refuge applies only to a person who discharges his or her firearm for the purpose of taking wildlife.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
12-2550
10/04
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve
AN ACT relative to the penalty for firearm use in a state area for propagation of game controlled by the fish and game department.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Purpose. The right to self defense, as stated in Part First, Articles 2 and 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution, is a natural right that shall not be abridged. The general court supports the universal right of self defense wherever one has a legal right to be. New Hampshire law shall not criminalize the right to carry firearms for self-defense and other lawful purposes. The general court, therefore, separates the legitimate interest of the fish and game department to protect the game refuge areas from illegal hunting from the right of citizens to carry a firearm.
2 Propagation of Fish and Game; State Fish and Game Refuges; Possession of Firearm. Amend RSA 212:17 to read as follows:
212:17 Penalty. Any person found upon a state game refuge, except as may be permitted under RSA 212:15, or upon any land under the control of the executive director, which has been established by [him] the executive director as an area for the propagation of game, [having in his possession a loaded] who discharges a firearm for the purpose of taking wildlife, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2013.