New Hampshire Underground

New Hampshire Underground => Questions about NH => Topic started by: tomhawk on March 30, 2009, 08:33 AM NHFT

Title: purchase a gun?
Post by: tomhawk on March 30, 2009, 08:33 AM NHFT
OK people,  i was diagnosed w/anxiety after 911.  and i had 2 home invasions.  1 in Hawaii.  and 1 in NJ.  nobody got hurt too bad.  the crooks did 4-7 yrs in prison.  yes I caught them.  We fought it out.  I almost got my ass kicked good.  There were 4 guys the first time.  And there were 2 guys the second time.  The cops arrived in time.  I would have been overpowered if not.  But now?  I wish I had a gun.  I surly would have used it.  So.....  Now I have a little bit of a anxiety problem.  Wonder why?  Am i allowed to purchase a gun?  It doesn't have to be a fancy 9mm or a dirty Harry gun.  just one that does the job.  And is reliable, like a revolver.  or a lever action rifle?  I'm talking about moving to NH and purchasing one there.  Does anybody know if I'm wasting my time.  Shining a flashlight in there drug crazed eyes just pisses them off.  They need to see a muzzle flash to calm them down.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: Bill St. Clair on March 30, 2009, 12:11 PM NHFT
Sort of a strange question to ask on your first visit here, but I'll have a go at it.

In most of these united States, you can legally purchase a gun from another gun owner by agreeing on a price, forking over cash, and receiving the gun. End of transaction. To get one from a Federal Firearms License holder (FFL) is also very easy, though your name ends up on his list of sales that can be looked at by the BATFE. You agree on a price, give him your driving license, or other government-approved identification, take a minute to make some check marks on the yellow sheet and to sign it, wait for him to call in the background check, fork over your cash, and walk out with your gun.

Buying ammo is easier, in most states. Go into Wally World or your local gun shop, pick the ammo you want, lay down cash, and walk out.

Some states are different. In Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Illinois, you need to have a Firearms Owners ID to buy from an FFL. In New York you need a permit to possess a handgun. But not in New Hampshire. Legal to buy, legal to carry openly, without any license or permit, and an easy-to-obtain permit required to carry concealed.

Some states and localities have other restrictions, on purchase, possession, and carry. Check with a local gun shop owner for details.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: doobie on March 30, 2009, 01:23 PM NHFT
I don't think being diagnosed with anxiety would be a disqualifier. 
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: neggy on March 30, 2009, 04:35 PM NHFT
the only disqualifier for mental health issues is if you were put in a rubber room against your will.

NH is one of the most Pro 2a states in the Northeast.

Once you are here with proof of residency, usually a NH drivers license you can go to any one of the many gun shops and take your pick, or you can buy face to face from a person who knows you.

Pistol permits for CCW are MUST issue in NH, I suggest you get one.

Without the CCW if you should get caught with a loaded gun in your car it can be a hassle.

For home defense I would suggest a Mossberg 500 or a Remington 870, 18" barrel, +2 tube extender loaded with 00 buck.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: tomhawk on March 30, 2009, 05:10 PM NHFT
well,  thanks for the feedback.   ;D
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: Keyser Soce on March 30, 2009, 07:41 PM NHFT
If 100% percent of the people were "evaluated", the vast majority would be diagnosed with some sort of mental disorder. Pay no attention to the men in white coats, they're just pharmaceutical sales men posing as health care professionals.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: nemoslaw on April 08, 2009, 10:15 PM NHFT
Can you buy a gun with a (nonviolent) misdemeanor charge?
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: KBCraig on April 09, 2009, 07:10 AM NHFT
Quote from: nemoslaw on April 08, 2009, 10:15 PM NHFT
Can you buy a gun with a (nonviolent) misdemeanor charge?

Yes, unless it's "domestic violence" (which doesn't have to be violent).
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: doobie on April 09, 2009, 10:47 AM NHFT
Quote from: nemoslaw on April 08, 2009, 10:15 PM NHFT
Can you buy a gun with a (nonviolent) misdemeanor charge?

I don't recall if it was a state law in MA, but if you had any jail term > 1 yr it prohibited you.  I think it may have been a state thing there.  Some drug charges could also invalidate your Right.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: MaineShark on April 10, 2009, 03:51 PM NHFT
Quote from: doobie on April 09, 2009, 10:47 AM NHFT
Quote from: nemoslaw on April 08, 2009, 10:15 PM NHFTCan you buy a gun with a (nonviolent) misdemeanor charge?
I don't recall if it was a state law in MA, but if you had any jail term > 1 yr it prohibited you.  I think it may have been a state thing there.  Some drug charges could also invalidate your Right.

That's Federal.  Any crime that can be punished by a term of more than one year is a felony, and makes it generally illegal to possess a firearm.

Note that they're referring to the maximum term for the given crime, even if you were given a suspended sentence and never set foot in a prison.  It's not uncommon for someone to decide to buy their first gun, later in life, only to find out that some charge they plead guilty to, decades earlier, for which they served little or no time, disqualifies them.  Which just goes to show that you should never, ever, under any circumstances take anything that a judge or prosecutor tells you at face value...

Joe
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: K. Darien Freeheart on April 10, 2009, 04:03 PM NHFT
QuoteI don't recall if it was a state law in MA, but if you had any jail term > 1 yr it prohibited you.
QuoteAny crime that can be punished by a term of more than one year is a felony

Might it be possible that the MA law triggers (no pun intended) if you're given 18 months as two consecutive sentences for misdemeanor charges? I've seen cases where the prosecutor charges a person with two counts of the same crime to be sure they can't have a record expunged later. It's possible MA has an additional back door to disarm people.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: bouncer on April 13, 2009, 05:43 PM NHFT
Yeah Mass does have a back door. Economics, the required permits there are $100 a year renewable every year. A carry concealed permit in NH is $40 for a four year period.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: MaineShark on April 13, 2009, 05:58 PM NHFT
Quote from: Kevin Dean on April 10, 2009, 04:03 PM NHFTMight it be possible that the MA law triggers (no pun intended) if you're given 18 months as two consecutive sentences for misdemeanor charges? I've seen cases where the prosecutor charges a person with two counts of the same crime to be sure they can't have a record expunged later. It's possible MA has an additional back door to disarm people.

I doubt it.  Mass just has discretionary licensing, so the authorities can deny the license for any reason (or no reason).

Quote from: bouncer on April 13, 2009, 05:43 PM NHFTYeah Mass does have a back door. Economics, the required permits there are $100 a year renewable every year. A carry concealed permit in NH is $40 for a four year period.

Neither of those numbers is correct.  NH licenses are $10 for four years ($20 for non-residents).  Mass has a number of different fees, which do not add up to $100 per year for residents.

Joe
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: Puke on April 13, 2009, 08:09 PM NHFT
Muskets aren't considered firearms right?
You could get a musket.


Or a sword.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: Pat K on April 13, 2009, 08:12 PM NHFT
Quote from: Puke on April 13, 2009, 08:09 PM NHFT
Muskets aren't considered firearms right?
You could get a musket.


Or a sword.


(http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/csstoreonline_2050_2017988)

This one is nice, if a bit unwieldy.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: MaineShark on April 13, 2009, 08:57 PM NHFT
Quote from: Puke on April 13, 2009, 08:09 PM NHFTMuskets aren't considered firearms right?
You could get a musket.


Or a sword.

For purposes of certain laws, they are not.  For example, the laws regarding sales across state lines.

For other laws, the terms are defined differently.  For example, a "machinegun" is defined to include any device which can make a firearm fire more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger, even if that device would not meet the dictionary definition of "firearm."  In once case, someone use a shoelace to give a trigger enough "spring" to activate itself due to recoil after the first shot.  The Feds defined that shoelace, in and of itself, as a machinegun.

Basically, they can define anything any way they want it, in order to make the laws as confusing and entrapping as possible.  Lawyers are really not much more than highly-paid translators who are fluent in legalese.

I wouldn't assume that any particular state's laws (and caselaw) would exempt muskets from the definition of firearms, for the purpose of the "no possession by prohibited persons" thing...

Joe
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: margomaps on April 14, 2009, 08:35 PM NHFT
Quote from: Bill St. Clair on March 30, 2009, 12:11 PM NHFTBuying ammo is easier, in most states. Go into Wally World or your local gun shop, pick the ammo you want, lay down cash, and walk out.

An interesting aside: the only time I've ever had trouble buying ammo was at a Walmart in New Hampshire.  I did not have a NH ID, and the clerk refused to sell me ammo.  Something about "I might be from a state like MA that requires a FOID to buy ammo...we can't be expected to know the laws of all the states".  The guy (who normally worked in the electronics department, not the sporting goods dept) was apparently afraid of doing something illegal, and erred on the side of caution.  After a discussion or two with various store managers, I was assured that I could buy ammo there as long as I was legally old enough to do so and could prove it with some sort of ID card.

The episode was quite annoying, but I haven't had any other problems there since.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: sandm000 on April 15, 2009, 08:44 AM NHFT
I don't think I've ever been carded for buying ammo.
Usually at Walmart you have to summon help to sporting goods to unlock the case that holds the ammo.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: Pat McCotter on April 17, 2009, 01:13 AM NHFT
Walmart in Concord only asked if the .38SPL ammo I was buying was for a handgun. That's why I don't buy guns there unless I know exactly what I'm getting.
Title: Re: purchase a gun?
Post by: nemoslaw on April 18, 2009, 04:40 AM NHFT
      I have done some reading about purchasing a gun with a record, and I am inclined to think from what I have read that you cant purchase a gun legally if your crime was a felony or considered a "wobbler" which is a reduced felony, in either case it does not affect my question in the negative.
     I have a Katana sword and an antique sword I bought at a bread and puppet festival years ago,haha. A Gilford cop tried to accuse me of concealing a weapon for having the Katana sword in the trunk of my car, I laughed, it's not even sharp, just a decoration I bought at a pawn shop. I know it sounds bogus but the cop was upset because he smelled patchouli and couldn't find any pot on me or in the car, so I guess it was guilt by association with patchouli, nothing came out of it I was just harassed.