HB 1310  - AS INTRODUCED

2022 SESSION

22-2598

04/08

HOUSE BILL 1310

AN ACT prohibiting the discharge of a firearm in the direction of a building, livestock, or pets.

SPONSORS: Rep. Verville, Rock. 2

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

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ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits the discharge of a firearm in the direction of a building, livestock, or pets that are within eyesight of the person discharging the firearm while hunting.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

22-2598

04/08

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Two

AN ACT prohibiting the discharge of a firearm in the direction of a building, livestock, or pets.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1  General Provisions as to Fish and Game; Prohibition.  Amend RSA 207:3-a to read as follows:

207:3-a  Prohibition.

I.  It is unlawful for a person to discharge a firearm or a .22 caliber or larger air rifle when used for hunting purposes or to shoot with a bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt within 300 feet of a permanently occupied dwelling without permission of the owner or the occupant of the dwelling or from the owner of the land on which the person discharging the firearm or air rifle or shooting the bow and arrow or crossbow and bolt is situated. Whoever violates the provisions of this [section] paragraph shall be guilty of a violation if a natural person, or guilty of a misdemeanor if any other person.

II.  It is unlawful for a person to discharge a firearm when used for hunting purposes in the direction of a building, livestock, or pets that are within eyesight of the person discharging the firearm.  Whoever is found guilty of a first offense under this paragraph shall have their hunting license suspended for the remainder of the year in which the offense occurred and the following year.  Whoever is found guilty of a second offense under this paragraph shall lose their hunting privileges in New Hampshire for life.  

2  Effective Date.  This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.