NEW HAMPSHIRE RANGE PROTECTION LAW "BEST IN THE COUNTRY"

P R E S S   R E L E A S E

12 May 2004

Contact:

Representative Pierre Bruno (603-487-2612)

The New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, Inc., PO Box 7182, Milford, NH 03055-7182,

www.nhfc-ontarget.org , Martin Strosser, VP, (603-673-0790)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW HAMPSHIRE RANGE PROTECTION LAW BEST IN THE COUNTRY

Representative Pierre Bruno (Hillsborough 45, New Boston), announced today that Governor Craig Benson had signed into law House Bill 1309, which updates New Hampshire's 1987 Shooting Range Protection Law.

Rep. Bruno said that by enacting HB1309, the General Court recognized the importance of maintaining safe shooting ranges. Safe shooting ranges promote: the training of law enforcement, safety programs for youth, competitive shooting, hunter safety training, and self-defense training for private citizens. Rep. Bruno said the new law is surely, the best in the country.

In welcoming Governor Benson's action, Rep. Bruno said the new law was urgently needed. Population growth, driven by new arrivals, had led to homes being built near long-established ranges. Some home buyers, from states with few shooting ranges, were surprised to hear gunfire. Most soon adjusted to the occasional noise.

Governor Benson, in signing the HB1309 into law, said that the owners, operators or users of shooting ranges would not be subject to civil liability or criminal prosecution in any matter relating to noise or noise pollution, so long as the range complied with noise control ordinances in force, when the range was built. The new law took effect upon signature.

Governor Benson said he welcomed HB1309, promoted by the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, because it supported New Hampshire's long tradition of outdoor activities and neighborly tolerance.

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