NH Pistol Permit

[LordGibson]

I tried searching on this subject, but it's kinda difficult when "nh", "pistol", and "ccw" are excluded from searches. . .

Anyways, I'm in the process of making application for a Pistol/Revolver permit in NH. I'm just curious if any of you have gone through this before and what your experience was like. How long did it take? Did they contact your references? Where there any hiccups in the process?

The local PD has an image of the state application prominently located on their website. I appreciate that they are (/seem to be) making things so simple. I just question their motivations. Regardless, I sure am glad to be a citizen of such a fine state.

 

[Ex-MA Hole]

If you have a pulse and no criminal record, you can get one.

Mine took about 2 weeks, and my Father's non-res took about 3.

Yes, they called my refs. No hiccups.

I'm from MA, and NH understands it's people desire to be able to defend themsleves, and in my experience, readily allow for it. I wouldn't worry too much.

 

[LordGibson]

References

One of the reasons I asked is because I'm having a difficult time choosing which references to supply. I'm not overly excited about a LEO discussing my ccw application with most of the people who come immediately to mind - or really with anyone, for that matter. I'd much prefer to keep the whole thing on the down-low.

Plus, it's kind of bizarre that the application doesn't ask for the telephone number of references - just mailing addresses. A few people I've considered only have cell phones - no land line to look up in the phonebook or with the phone company. So then the question becomes whether I should avoid using these references, or try to use them exclusively. . .

Maybe I'm making this into a bigger deal than it really is. Feel free to tell me so.

 

[Striker]

Here is the link (which you may already have)

http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/nhsp/ssb/permitslicensing/faq.html

I applied for a non-res permit, got it 17 days from the day I mailed it in. No contact with my references, but I provided copies of my other CCW's, so maybe that helped.

 

[tuna]

I'm from MA also, I forget who I listed as references, but they weren't called.

I put a $20 check and a photocopy of my MA License (restricted to Hunting and Target Practice) and the application into an envelope and dropped it in the mailbox on Thursday afternoon.
On Wednesday I had an All Lawful Purposes LTC in my mailbox (yes, 6 days, and 2 of them were weekends and 2 days at least were spent in the custody of the US Post Office).

I found some 16 Ga slugs at the Kittery Trading Post, and asked if I could use either my NH or MA permits to but them. I was told "No, we'll need cash or a credit card, sir" with a wink from the saleslady.

 

[Devonai]

None of my references have ever been called for my NH, MA, and CT permits. Perhaps I'm just a trustworthy looking sort of fellow.

 

[phorvick]

I live in MN. Mailed the NH app on a Friday, had the permit the following Thursday...less than a week. No references were contacted. It may make a difference if you are a NH resident and getting this as your initial permit.

 

[Chipperman]

I live in MA and have a non-res NH license.
My references were contacted. I know a few of my friends have refs contacted also. Maybe it depends on who is working applications at a particular time.

I don't know of anyone who has been denied, though.

 

[scurtis_34471]

I had one when I lived there about 15 years ago. I paid $7 (I think its $20 now), waited about 3 weeks and got the permit. It was that simple.

 

[LordGibson]

So this is how it went:

I mailed my application on the 15th. I waited patiently at first and then checked the mailbox excitedly every day after the 20th. Nothing. I checked with one of my references. No call. Hrmph.

So today, after another empty mailbox, I picked up the phone and called the PD. Very nice lady informed me that it had been ready for me to pick up for a while. Apparently, not only do you have to pick it up in person so they may photocopy your driver's license, but you're supposed to be psychic enough to know when it's ready. Or obnoxious enough to call every day to check. They don't call you.

All of this would have been perfectly fine if it were posted somewhere on the state website, or the local department's website (both of which are nice enough to supply a printable application and a mailing address), or , on the actual application itself. Or if I'd had the presence of mind to call ahead and get the real skinny.

</rant>

Anyways, I finally got my Pistol License. Now I just need an actual pistol. . . Gotta get back to work on the wife

 

[Fly320s]

Lord,

Maybe it's just your PD. A lady from my local PD called me when my license was ready for pickup. Everyone is very nice here in Rochester.

Are you a member of a shooting club or do you have land you can shoot on or do you go to an indoor range?

Since you got the pistol license before actually owning a pistol, I have to ask this: You do know that the license is for carry purposes and that you don't need a license to own a handgun (or any gun) in NH, right?

 

[LordGibson]

Unfortunately the only place I have available for shooting is a (semi-)local indoor range. I've been taking my shotgun down there for a while and the last few times the wife and I have been renting various handguns. She's settled on the Glock 19, but won't let me actually pay for it till she gets the bedroom set I promised her.

I know the license is for cc, not for purchasing. But since I've become so excited about the handguns, and knowing the first purchase is a ways off, I had to do something.

 

[Khornet]

Here in Wolfeboro

I got mine years ago. All refs were contacted, and I've been contacted several times as someone else's reference. No hassles, $25 for 4 years.

 

[Manedwolf]

Less than a week, no calls.

 

[newman32]

I think my non-res took about 10 days from me mailing it to the permit showing up in my mailbox. I was amazed! No calls either.

 

[OSS]

I'm a Virginia resident with an out of state NH permit. Best process I could ask for (of course it would be better - and constitutionally accurate - if no permit were required to carry a gun).

Anyway, I filled out all my paperwork and had the permit in hand in less than 2 weeks. Hell of a lot faster than my VA permit!

 

[SSN Vet]

my OOS NH permit took all of ....

one week....I'm not kidding....they must have processed it the same day they received it.

not bad for a little state with no taxes and an underfunded government.

Live Free or Die baby!!

 

[LordGibson]

For a state with no taxes my property tax bill is awfully large. . .

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I did NH about a year ago. I don't remember exactly how long it took, but I'm pretty certain it was under two weeks. I don't know for a fact whether or not any of my references were called, but nobody has mentioned it so I rather think not.

 

[statelineblues]

Got my Non-Res in about 2 weeks - 1 of my references was contacted (someone I've known for 30 years). I have family that lives up there, so I decided to get one. It was easy and I don't think you should worry about the process.

But I am curious about why you would worry about the people you would use as references - don't they know you like to shoot?

 

[LordGibson]

statelineblues:

A lot of them do know I enjoy shooting, though not all. Of those who do, most are less than enthusiastic about it. And even those who tolerate it better would see a huge difference between spending Saturdays down at the range and carrying a pistol on my hip all day. Not to mention the fact that, in my mind, the whole point of ccw is discretion. None of these people need to know.

To my knowledge, none of my references were contacted - which suits me just fine. But I would be curious how much information an LEO gives to a reference regarding the applicant's intentions when such contact does occur.

 

[SSN Vet]

you aint seen taxes.....

LG....

I live just accross the state line in Maine and don't buy for a minute the myth that the property taxes are greatly lower. Compairing to my co-workers in Dover and Rochester, they're about the same.

BUT....

Maine's income tax REALLY stinks.... and then 5% sales tax pust the frosting on the cake.

Maine is among the top five highest total tax burden states in the union (#2 if I'm not mistaken)

NH is in the bottom five (#49 or 50)

keep on livin' free and lovin' it.

none the less....I still love living in Maine.....after all it's "the way life should be"

and now NH is actually more politically liberal than Maine!!! That's hard to believe.

 

[cloudcroft]

Sounds like NH is following VT's pathetic example.

Well, after NH falls ME will be next.

After that, New England will be no place for serious pro-RKBA people either to live in or relocate to.

-- John D.

 

[LordGibson]

I'd say we have a long ways to go yet, considering VT is at the top of the Pro-gun Paradise list and NH is surely in the top five. I don't think I'll be moving out in my lifetime.

Left-leaning governments don't always mean bad things for gunnies. Though I expect that's the exception rather than the rule.

 

[romma]

Okay, okay already! After reading this post, and looking at my friends NH permit the other night, I printed and sent it off. total time invested, 8 minutes... I will now have NH along with Florida and Connecticut.