A Republican-backed bill would bar public universities from banning lawful weapons on campus after a narrow floor vote.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The Republican-led New Hampshire House voted Feb. 5 to advance legislation that would eliminate gun-free zones at public colleges and universities across the state, marking a significant shift in campus firearm policy.
The bill passed the House by a vote of 188 to 165, according to WMUR, with most Republicans supporting the measure and most Democrats opposing it. If enacted, the legislation would prevent publicly funded colleges from restricting the lawful possession or use of weapons on campus.
State Rep. Sam Farrington, a Republican supporter of the bill, framed the proposal as a matter of fundamental rights during floor debate. “We in New Hampshire have made it clear: self-defense is not a privilege, it is a natural right, and natural rights are not given by governments,” Farrington said. “They are granted by God alone.”
Farrington also pushed back against arguments that college students are too young or irresponsible to carry firearms. “We hear college students are too drunk, they’re too immature, they’re too young to carry a firearm,” he said. “My question is, how can we allow them to vote, then? And how do we let them go fight in a foreign war?”
As outlined by The Truth About Guns, the proposal would apply broadly to weapons that are legal to carry under New Hampshire law. The bill would prohibit public colleges from banning firearms as well as other self-defense tools, including pepper spray, mace, stun guns, and tasers. In effect, any weapon that an individual may legally carry elsewhere in the state would also be permitted on public college campuses.
Democrats opposing the measure warned that allowing weapons on campus could heighten risks to students and faculty. Supporters countered that similar laws in other states have not produced the negative outcomes critics predict.
State Rep. Jennifer Rhodes, a Republican, cited experiences elsewhere in the country to rebut concerns about increased violence. “The states that have passed campus carry have done so without any increase or risk of violence,” she said.
The bill now moves forward in the legislative process, where it will face further debate as lawmakers weigh campus safety concerns against arguments centered on self-defense rights and consistency with state firearms law.