New Hampshire lawmakers are reversing a decision made in the emotional aftermath of the Parkland school shooting, advancing legislation that would prevent public colleges from banning lawful weapons on campus — a move Republicans argue restores constitutional rights unfairly stripped from young adults.
On Thursday, the New Hampshire House voted 188–165 to advance House Bill 1793. The legislation would prohibit publicly funded colleges and universities from restricting the lawful possession or use of weapons, including firearms and non-lethal self-defense tools such as tasers and pepper spray. The bill will now be reviewed for any fiscal impact before moving to the Senate.
The vote marks a sharp departure from 2018, when a bipartisan coalition rejected a campus carry proposal amid heightened national concern over gun violence following the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.
