Protect Students — Defend Rights: Why New Hampshire Must Act on Campus Carry
The tragic mass shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured others serves as a heartbreaking reminder that our current approach to campus safety is failing. While this tragedy occurred outside our state, its lessons are painfully relevant here in New Hampshire.
As reported by New Hampshire Public Radio in December 2025, Republican leaders in the New Hampshire House — including myself — have been urging action to ensure that college campuses in our state do not become defenseless gun-free zones where law-abiding students and faculty are unable to protect themselves. New Hampshire Public Radio
A Matter of Rights and Safety
In the wake of Brown, we introduced legislation commonly referred to as the “campus carry” bill, designed to affirm the Second Amendment rights of all college students and staff at institutions that receive public funding. New Hampshire Public Radio
As NHPR’s coverage notes, this proposal would “bar colleges and universities *… from regulating guns or other ‘non-lethal’ weapons on campus,” meaning students and staff who are legally permitted to carry could exercise that right freely. New Hampshire Public Radio
Too Many Risk Factors, Not Enough Options
Rep. Sam Farrington, a UNH senior and co-sponsor, rightly observed that “there is no reason why a university like UNH or Plymouth State, that is funded by tax dollars, should infringe upon 2nd Amendment rights of college students.” New Hampshire Public Radio
This isn’t a theoretical debate. It’s about recognizing that when criminals strike, students shouldn’t be defenseless by design. As House Majority Leader Jason Osborne has emphasized, “These tragedies prove what history has shown again and again: Gun free zones create soft targets.” New Hampshire Public Radio
Focusing on Real Solutions
It’s important to be clear: supporting campus carry does not mean endorsing violence. It means trusting law-abiding citizens who follow our rules and asking the question: Why should those who abide by the law be left powerless when seconds matter most?
New Hampshire already respects the right to carry openly or concealed without a license under constitutional carry. Extending that respect to our public campuses is a logical next step — one grounded in both freedom and public safety. en.wikipedia.org
Standing for Granite State Safety
We owe it to our students, our educators, and our communities to create policies that protect without infringing on constitutional rights. The campus carry proposal is a commonsense response: bolster safety, trust responsible citizens, and ensure that even in the worst moments, Granite Staters have the tools they need to respond.
Let’s learn from every tragedy, act to prevent the next, and preserve both liberty and life in New Hampshire.
