New Hampshire House Republicans reintroduced legislation on Jan. 7 that would restrict public colleges and universities in the state from limiting firearm possession on campus, setting up a debate over constitutional rights, campus safety and who has the authority to regulate guns.
The bill, H.B. 1739, is titled the “Protecting College Students Act.” According to its sponsor, Rep. Samuel Farrington, R-Strafford, the proposal would prohibit restrictions on firearm possession on the campuses of public New Hampshire universities. If enacted, the measure could require public institutions such as the University of New Hampshire to change existing rules that ban firearms, and it has drawn mixed reactions from lawmakers and Dartmouth student political groups.
Farrington said in an interview that he views the legislation as a “matter of liberty,” pointing to the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and Article Two of the New Hampshire Constitution. “In New Hampshire, we have the Second Amendment to the [U.S.] Constitution, but we also have Article Two of the New Hampshire Constitution, which provides that all persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families and their property in the state,” Farrington said.
Under current policy, UNH prohibits the “use and possession of all firearms” on all of its campuses, according to the university’s website. The policy includes an exception process, stating that exceptions “may be granted by the Chief of Police ‘for instructional or other qualified purposes.’”
Dartmouth also bans weapons on College property without permission, according to the College’s website, which states that Dartmouth prohibits “the possession of any weapon on Dartmouth Property without the explicit written authorization of Dartmouth’s Director of the Department of Safety and Security.” The policy lists exceptions for law enforcement and military personnel engaging in “official duties.” Keiselim Montas, the head of Dartmouth’s Department of Safety and Security, did not reply to a request for comment, in an interview.
Farrington argued that campus firearm restrictions are “illegal,” citing Article Two of the New Hampshire Constitution and a 2011 statute that leaves firearm regulation to the state. “All authority regulating firearms belongs to the state legislature elected by the people, and so universities don’t even have the authority to have these complete gun bans on campus,” Farrington said.
Democratic lawmakers interviewed said they opposed the bill and emphasized public safety concerns. Rep. David Meuse, D-Rockingham, said legislators should consider the “lethality involved with firearms these days” and vote against the proposal.
“Our responsibility as legislators is not to simply to ensure that individual rights are completely unfettered,” Meuse said. “We also have a constitutional responsibility to make sure that we are balancing individual rights with the right of society to maintain peace and order.”
Student political leaders at Dartmouth also offered differing views. Dartmouth Conservatives president Jack Coleman ‘26 said that while he supports the Second Amendment, he believes college campuses present a “unique challenge” when it comes to safely securing and properly using firearms.
Coleman said he sees “very few” Dartmouth students locking their dorm doors. “I believe students who go through the proper procedure should absolutely be allowed to own a firearm and keep it in their private personal possession in private homes,” Coleman said. “I would not support allowing students to bring their own firearms into massively attended events on college campuses. I don’t think it’s needed.”
Coleman added that he would be “more concerned” about an accidental firing of a firearm on campus than an intentional shooting.
The bill’s reintroduction comes amid broader national attention on campus violence. According to The Dartmouth, H.B. 1793 was introduced to the House on Dec. 12, 2025, five days before a shooting at Brown University that killed two students and injured nine.
Farrington said that the Brown shooting, which occurred on a campus with gun restrictions in place, showed that such restrictions “don’t do anything.” “When you disarm people, people are less safe,” Farrington said.
Dartmouth Democrats co-financial director Reece Sharp ‘28 said she was “very against” the legislation. Sharp said using the Brown shooting to support the bill was “ridiculous.” “The answer is to have stricter statewide laws that prohibit someone from accessing a gun to begin with,” Sharp said. “Not introducing more guns to then have a shootout.”
Meuse said he believes the Protecting College Students Act has a “pretty good chance” of passing, pointing to Republican control of both the New Hampshire Legislature and the governor’s office. He also said gun rights are a “Republican pet cause” and that pro-gun groups often mobilize around firearm-related bills, including sending what he described as a “raft of emails” to lawmakers when gun legislation is considered.
State Sen. Rebecca Perkins Kwoka ‘04, D-Portsmouth, criticized the legislation in an emailed statement to The Dartmouth, framing it as an example of misplaced priorities. Kwoka wrote that Republicans are “not focused on the issues New Hampshire voters need most,” including affordable housing, childcare and healthcare.
“As college students, your safety and wellbeing matter tremendously and the state should be using its power to promote the general welfare of all people,” she wrote. “That means keeping our citizens safe, and keeping their costs down to enable their life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.”
The recent campus security concerns echo other incidents that have raised questions about safety protocols, including an unattended car that prompted a bomb squad response earlier this year.
Farrington said House Republicans have identified the bill as “priority legislation,” and he said its sponsors are seeking to protect college students and their rights. “When you’re a college student, I don’t think that you forgo your civil liberties,” Farrington said. “At a public university such as UNH, as an arm of the state, they do not have the authority to take away your rights.”
The proposal remains under consideration in the New Hampshire House. The Dartmouth’s reporting did not include a committee vote date or a timeline for further action on the bill.
