Please contact your state representatives and ask them to support HB1651 and HB1423.
Both bills will be heard Tuesday, February 7, 2012.
HB1651: This bill requires the division of state police to equip special weapons and tactics (SWAT) units or teams with cameras. Given the fact that NH is the 2nd safest state in the country, do you really believe NH needs 255 SWAT team members? As firearms owners see more and more official transgression against their peaceful use and possession of firearms, we are sadly seeing instances where, for whatever reasons, SWAT invades the homes of lawful firearms owners. We believe that, just as many police cruisers are equipped with cameras, (and that many times those cameras have documented unlawful behavior against legitimate firearms owners), it is important for SWAT Team members and citizens alike, to preserve an official (and incontrovertible) record of all SWAT Team/citizen interactions. We believe this will not only serve to keep our SWAT Teams honest, but also to help in the prosecution of those with criminal intent. (Hearing: Tuesday, 7-Feb-2012 @ 10:30 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.
HB1423: This bill removes the requirement that a person not be the initial aggressor in order to legally use deadly force in defense of another person. In some cases where deadly force unfortunately becomes the only option, the real aggressor often tries to turn around the prosecution by claiming that the defender was the initial aggressor, which denies the defender a legitimate claim to use deadly force for self defense. This bill removes that requirement, taking away the bludgeon that criminals sometimes use against lawful self defense with a firearm or other self-defense tool. (Hearing: Tuesday, 7-Feb-2012 @ 11:30 A.M. LOB Rm 204, HOUSE CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SAFETY) Please also call the members of the committee and ask them to support this important bill.
If you are able to attend the hearings for these bills, please do so. Your presence makes a much greater impact on legislators, when you take the time from your busy day to attend in person and make your voice HEARD!