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Bill to speed return of firearms after court orders draws mixed testimony over NICS process
Summary
HB 506 would create specific timeframes and a procedure for courts and the Department of Safety to handle return requests for firearms seized under court order. Supporters called it a property‑rights fix; state police cautioned about operational complexity and requested flexibility.
Representative Dennis Mahan, sponsor, said the bill “is more about property than it is about firearms,” describing instances where people waited months to have firearms returned after a court order expired. The bill would amend RSA 159‑D to establish an expedited process for returning firearms and ammunition: courts could request a NICS (National Instant Criminal Background Check System) check via the New Hampshire Department of Safety within two business days of a motion for return; the Department would have 10 business days to reply with “proceed” or “deny.” Denials must cite specific statutory prohibitions; an applicant may request a hearing and the court must schedule it…
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