how to get a CCW permit

[Friday]

I live in Nashua; how exactly do I get a CCW permit?  So far, I have searched the websites of the Nashua Police Department, the City of Nashua, and the State of New Hampshire.  This may be a shall-issue state, but they sure don't make it easy to find out how to become was-issued.   

A hyperlink to the appropriate form would also be helpful, if it's online somewhere.

[Kat Kanning]

Go to the local police station and they have the forms.

[Pat K]

From the pro gun Nh web site.



Q: How do I get a concealed carry license?

A: First, get an application form. You can get one from your town police department, or download a blank form from the Web at www.nh.gov/safety/nhsp/documents/dssp85.pdf . (The latest revision date at this time is 12/02 — found at the lower left corner of the form.) Fill it out and give it to your police department. (In small towns without their own full-time police officers, the town selectmen issue carry licenses, unless they've arranged for the county sheriff to do so.) Note that the form asks "for what reason(s) do you make application to carry a pistol in New Hampshire?"; according to the law (RSA 159:6), "hunting, target shooting, or self-defense shall be considered a proper purpose. The license shall be valid for all allowable purposes regardless of the purpose for which it was originally issued." Licenses are issued for at least four years, and the fee is ten dollars. (Non-resident licenses, issued by the state police, cost twenty dollars.)


Q: Who can get a concealed carry license?

A: With some rare exceptions, anyone who isn't prohibited by law from possessing a gun is generally issued a License to Carry. State law (RSA 159:6 and 159:6-c) provides that if you're denied a license, the issuing authority must give you the reason(s) for denial in writing within 14 days of the application; you have 30 days to ask the local district or municipal court for a hearing; the court must hold a hearing within 14 days after that; and "during this hearing the burden shall be upon the issuing authority to demonstrate by clear and convincing proof why any denial, suspension, or revocation was justified, failing which the court shall enter an order directing the issuing authority to grant or reinstate the petitioner's license."


Q: My local police department says that they will

[Kat Kanning]

Note that the form asks "for what reason(s) do you make application to carry a pistol in New Hampshire?"

I think I answered that question: so I can carry a pistol, or something equally circular.

[Dreepa]

Friday.. there was a form that I downloaded from this site somewhere (it was linked or embedded in some thread)

I brought it to my police station.  Waited 15 days (I gave them one extra day) and paid $10 cash and I got it.

I will look for the form.

Oops I see that PatK posted it.   

[Friday]

Thanks, all.  I took Kat's advice and stopped by my "friendly" neighborhood police station, where an ever-so-"friendly" (aka grumpy) lady gave me the form and said that IF I am approved, I can come back in 14 days and give her some money.  She had clearly run out of doughnuts. 

[Recumbent ReCycler]

I would suggest checking to see if it matches the official application form, which can be found here: http://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/nhsp/ssb/permitslicensing/documents/dssp85.pdf
Unfortunately some chiefs of police have been issuing fake applications, some of which are actual applications that have been modified to suggest that there are more requirements than there really are.

[grasshopper]

Defender, do you know where these a$$holes are doing this, If I'm rite, it is a felony for them to do this.

[J’raxis 270145]

Defender, do you know where these a$$holes are doing this, If I'm rite, it is a felony for them to do this.

Also from pgnh.org:—

Q: My local police department says that they will take more than 14 days to process my application for a concealed carry license; they gave me a second form (besides the standard one-page application form); they require more than three references; they require my references to send letters to the police department; they require documented proof of firearms training; and they want fingerprints and photographs. Which of these actions are legal?

A: None of them. RSA 159:6 requires that licenses shall be issued or denied within 14 days of application, that "no other forms [other than the state-standard one-page form for NH residents, DSSP 85] shall be used," and that no fingerprints or photographs may be demanded. RSA 159:6-f provides that issuing authorities who violate the law may be personally liable to you for court costs and attorney's fees, provided that "the court finds that the entity or person knew or should have known that the conduct engaged in was a violation of this chapter" — which you can ensure by printing out a copy of all 26 sections of RSA 159 and delivering it to your police department.

The RSA is available online if you want to check the actual citations.

[mvpel]

Thanks, all.  I took Kat's advice and stopped by my "friendly" neighborhood police station, where an ever-so-"friendly" (aka grumpy) lady gave me the form and said that IF I am approved, I can come back in 14 days and give her some money.  She had clearly run out of doughnuts. 

It's typical for the cities to treat the 14 days like a waiting period, instead of the deadline that it is.  My license was issued in the course of a few days.

[toowm]

I know someone who recently got one who was told that you had to include phone numbers for your references (you don't) and that wasn't given the permit on the 14th day due to the cop who does the background checks being busy. They were ready for a confrontation (maybe with a lawyer) on day 16 but got a call from the police department that the permit was ready.

[sandm000]

Is that 14 business days or 14 regular days?

[mvpel]

14 calendar days.

[J’raxis 270145]

I know someone who recently got one who was told that you had to include phone numbers for your references (you don't) and that wasn't given the permit on the 14th day due to the cop who does the background checks being busy. They were ready for a confrontation (maybe with a lawyer) on day 16 but got a call from the police department that the permit was ready.

What exactly is the purposes of collecting references? Since they can't collect phone numbers, do they actually mail these people and expect a response within the fourteen-day period?

[d_goddard]

I have no objection whatsoever being used as a reference for this purpose by anybody known to me personally. If I know you and you know me, feel free to put me as a reference when you apply for a CCW license.

Since they can't collect phone numbers

Sometimes they try to collect phone numbers anyway. I have been phoned up by police who were following up on a CCW license. In that case the person seeking the license didn't know enough about the law to realize that a felony was being committed against her.

do they actually mail these people and expect a response within the fourteen-day period?

I've also received mails from police and yes, they do expect a quick response.