New Hampshire: State Senate Scheduled to Consider Shurtleff Criminal Protection Bill this Thursday

Contact your state Senator TODAY in opposition to House Bill 135

In March, the New Hampshire House of Representatives undermined your inherent right to self-defense by passing the Shurtleff Criminal Protection Bill, House Bill 135, by a 189-184 vote.  The state Senate is scheduled to consider HB 135 and decide the fate of this misguided proposal this Thursday.  If passed and enacted into law, HB 135 would repeal important self-defense provisions enacted in 2011 and make the following changes to New Hampshire’s current self-defense laws:

1. Eliminates the provision that allows a person to use deadly force anywhere he or she has a legal right to be.
2. Amends the definition of non-deadly force by removing the provision that specifies the act of producing or displaying a weapon is considered non-deadly force.  Thus, drawing or exhibiting your firearm to intimidate a perpetrator could be considered deadly force.
3. Repeals the provision granting civil immunity for the use of force in self-defense thereby allowing criminals to sue their victims.

In the face of an unlawful attack, law-abiding citizens should not be forced to retreat or run from a place they have a legal right to be.  It is unreasonable for victims of crime to worry about being arrested or prosecuted if they use force to defend themselves or their family.  Any victim should be able to presume that an unlawful attacker or forcible intruder is there for the purpose of doing harm.

Given the alarming passage of this legislation in the state House, it is critical that you contact your state Senator TODAY.  Let him or her know that you oppose New Hampshire going back to “business as usual” with judges and courts putting the rights of criminals before the rights of the law-abiding.

Remember, the state Senate is the last line of defense to stop this bill from going to Governor Maggie Hassan (D) for her approval.  Ask your state Senator whether he or she plans to vote for the rights of law-abiding citizens or criminals on Thursday.  Click here for contact information and help identifying your state Senator in Concord.