Governor vetoes gun-sales license bill

By MARK HAYWARD
New Hampshire Union Leader
9 hours, 53 minutes ago

CONCORD – Urged on by police chiefs, Gov. John Lynch vetoed legislation Monday that would have scrapped the ability of cities and towns to license handgun sales, legislation that was sponsored by a leader of Lynch's own Democratic Party.

The veto keeps intact a law that gives cities and towns the option to license sellers of pistols and revolvers.

The sponsor of the legislation called local licensing redundant because the federal government already licenses firearm dealers and regulates firearm sales. State Rep. Daniel Eaton, the House majority floor leader, also said local licensing is not uniformly applied. And he warned that towns could use it punitively or for zoning purposes.

"I think it's a wasted veto, it's a non-issue," said Eaton, of Stoddard. "I don't get it."

But Bedford Police Chief David Bailey said local licensing applies to some hobbyists who aren't covered by federal law. While Bedford has no firearm retailers in town, it licenses a few hobbyists, he said.

"There are some that slip through the cracks in the federal system," Bailey said. "They don't license some of these dealers."

Bailey, who stressed he supports the Second Amendment, would like to see the state strengthen the local licensing law. He also said the state would get a bad reputation were Lynch to sign the law, noting past criticism that Boston officials have leveled on New Hampshire for its gun laws.

"I don't want to see this as a weak gun state where anyone can get guns here," Bailey said.

In his veto message, Lynch said New Hampshire police chiefs strongly urged that the bill not become law.

He said the local license allows for the identification of sellers who may not be subject to federal firearm licensing requirements.

"While other state and federal laws prevent any person in New Hampshire from selling a firearm to a convicted felon, it does not seem necessary to take away the authority of municipalities -- authority the state has granted for nearly 20 years -- to license local retail sellers of firearms," Lynch said in a statement.

Eaton said the only communities that he knows of with local handgun sales licensing are Bedford and Portsmouth. He's yet to decide whether to seek an override.

Another confusing matter involved the Association of Police Chiefs. Eaton said the organization did not oppose the legislation in committee, and its opposition surfaced at the last minute. Most police chiefs aren't even aware of the licensing requirement, he said.

Eaton said Pro-Gun New Hampshire supported the legislation in committee.

Police Chiefs Association President David Cahill acknowledged the organization was late in becoming aware of the bill. Once it found out, Cahill wrote Lynch and met with him to explain the reasons for opposing it.

Cahill dismissed concerns about it being redundant.

"The issue is local police don't enforce federal laws," Cahill said. He said Sunapee has licensed handgun sales in the past.

Bailey said the issue is worth studying because the licensing law is weak as it is.

HB 1161 - http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legi...10/HB1161.html

http://www.unionleader.com/article.a...0-25148ee2166e

Steve