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1 Short Title. This act may be known and cited as the "Protecting College Students Act".
2 Statement of Findings. The general court hereby finds that:
I. The Constitution of New Hampshire, Part I, Article 2-a, guarantees the natural and essential right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property, and the state.
II. The Supreme Court has recognized in Castle Rock v. Gonzales that the government has no duty to protect individuals from private harm.
III. New Hampshire law provides for constitutional carry, recognizing that law-abiding citizens have the right to carry firearms without unnecessary government restriction.
IV. Policies adopted by public colleges and universities that prohibit or restrict law-abiding students from exercising this right are inconsistent with the New Hampshire Constitution and the state's statutory framework.
V. Such policies fail to meet the historical tradition test of firearm regulation as established by the Supreme Court in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen. Such policies exceed the proper authority of such institutions.
VI. Such prohibitions are ineffective as a matter of public safety because they disarm responsible citizens while doing nothing to deter those who would commit acts of violence.
VII. Preventing lawful students from carrying only ensures that potential victims are left defenseless against unlawful aggression.
VIII. New Hampshire should secure and protect the right of law-abiding college students, faculty, staff, and visitors at public institutions of higher education to exercise their constitutional right to carry firearms, consistent with existing state law.
3 New Subdivision; Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 27 the following new subdivision:
Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses
159:28 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "Non-lethal weapons" means pepper spray, mace, stun guns, tasers, and other similar devices designed to incapacitate without causing fatal injury.
II. "Campus" refers to all land, buildings, facilities, and vehicles owned, leased, or controlled by a public institution of higher education in this state.
III. "Public institution of higher education" means any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, law school, medical or dental school, or any institution of higher education in this state supported by public funds.
159:29 Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses.
I. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no public institution of higher education shall enact rules, policies, or similar prohibitions restricting the possession, carry, storage, or lawful use of firearms or non-lethal weapons on campus.
II. No state or institutional permit or license shall be required for such carry on campus.
159:30 Remedies. Any individual aggrieved by a violation of this subdivision may bring an action against the public institution of higher education and its employees responsible for the violation and seek appropriate relief, including injunctive relief, monetary damages, reasonable attorneys' fees, and court costs. Total damages awarded in an action brought under this subdivision shall be at least $10,000.
159:31 Severability. If any provision of this subdivision or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the subdivision which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this subdivision are declared to be severable.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
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1 Short Title. This act may be known and cited as the "Protecting College Students Act".
2 Statement of Findings. The general court hereby finds that:
I. The Constitution of New Hampshire, Part I, Article 2-a, guarantees the natural and essential right of the people to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property, and the state.
II. The Supreme Court has recognized in Castle Rock v. Gonzales that the government has no duty to protect individuals from private harm.
III. New Hampshire law provides for constitutional carry, recognizing that law-abiding citizens have the right to carry firearms without unnecessary government restriction.
IV. Policies adopted by public colleges and universities that prohibit or restrict law-abiding students from exercising this right are inconsistent with the New Hampshire Constitution and the state's statutory framework.
V. Such policies fail to meet the historical tradition test of firearm regulation as established by the Supreme Court in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen. Such policies exceed the proper authority of such institutions.
VI. Such prohibitions are ineffective as a matter of public safety because they disarm responsible citizens while doing nothing to deter those who would commit acts of violence.
VII. Preventing lawful students from carrying only ensures that potential victims are left defenseless against unlawful aggression.
VIII. New Hampshire should secure and protect the right of law-abiding college students, faculty, staff, and visitors at public institutions of higher education to exercise their constitutional right to carry firearms, consistent with existing state law.
3 New Subdivision; Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses. Amend RSA 159 by inserting after section 27 the following new subdivision:
Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses
159:28 Definitions. In this subdivision:
I. "Non-lethal weapons" means pepper spray, mace, stun guns, tasers, and other similar devices designed to incapacitate without causing fatal injury.
II. "Campus" refers to all land, buildings, facilities, and vehicles owned, leased, or controlled by a public institution of higher education in this state.
III. "Public institution of higher education" means any public technical institute, public junior college, public senior college or university, law school, medical or dental school, or any institution of higher education in this state supported by public funds.
159:29 Prohibition on Restrictions of Weapons on College Campuses.
I. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no public institution of higher education shall enact rules, policies, or similar prohibitions restricting the possession, carry, storage, or lawful use of firearms or non-lethal weapons on campus.
II. No state or institutional permit or license shall be required for such carry on campus.
159:30 Remedies. Any individual aggrieved by a violation of this subdivision may bring an action against the public institution of higher education and its employees responsible for the violation and seek appropriate relief, including injunctive relief, monetary damages, reasonable attorneys' fees, and court costs. Total damages awarded in an action brought under this subdivision shall be at least $10,000.
159:31 Severability. If any provision of this subdivision or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the subdivision which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this subdivision are declared to be severable.
4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.