NEW HAMPSHIRE—
Two people from New Hampshire were charged with felonies for illegally carrying guns while traveling through Massachusetts. This led the office of the attorney general of New Hampshire to challenge a Massachusetts rule.
People in New Hampshire can own and carry guns without a license. Massachusetts’ gun rules are stricter, and everyone who wants to legally own a gun in the state has to go through a state-specific licensing process.
Professor Daniel Pi of law at the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law said, “You have New Hampshire, which I think is probably the most gun-friendly state, right next to Massachusetts, which is one of the strictest states.”
People who break that rule can be charged with a felony and must serve at least two and a half years in prison.
In an amicus statement sent to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the attorney general of New Hampshire says that the fact that people can be punished for crossing state lines is “overly burdensome” and therefore violates the Second Amendment.
“Massachusetts is very strict about how their law applies to people who don’t live there,” Assistant Attorney General Brandon Chase said. “They might be the only state that doesn’t allow reciprocal carry; they’re one of the few.” This means that Massachusetts will not recognize a gun license from any other state.
News 9 has asked people in the Massachusetts courts for their thoughts but has not heard back yet.
Chase said that the next step is to wait until September 9, when the MA Supreme Judicial Court is likely to look over the amicus briefs.
