Contact: Joe Mullin, Assistant Manager, Northeastern States
On February 10, the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation’s (CSF) Assistant Manager, Northeastern States, Joseph Mullin, testified during a New Hampshire House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee hearing in support of House Bill 307 (HB 307) – legislation that would bolster the state’s preemption over the local regulation of firearms, ammunition, and knives.
By adding teeth to the state’s current preemption law, HB 307 inserts a mechanism of enforcement, ensuring that there is a clear process to overturn illegal local ordinances. A point that Mullin highlighted in his testimony, as well as in his letter of support, is that a key benefit offered by preemption is the equal distribution of the law. State preemption for firearms, ammunition, and knives protects all law-abiding citizens from the risk of offending differing rules as they travel between localities with differing rules and regulations.
CSF will continue to remain engaged on this pro-sportsmen’s legislation and will provide updates as they are made available.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?