New Hampshire gun laws

[everReady Rob]

I was 'shortwaving' this morning and found a station talking about the New Hampshire legislature considering a law that would allow home owners to point a gun at someone invading their home, but not shoot. Are you kidding me?

Only had the station for a few seconds until it faded away and tried to find it again a few minutes later and a different voice (female) was stating that one of the reasons for the law was to reduce the number of police calls in the middle of the night to answer homeowner calls. May not have been the same station or the same story at all as it seems a stretch to tie the two statements together. The station(s) seemed to be a 24 hr news format doing a end of year type story.

I know some states change laws today (1/1/2011) regarding CCW and the rights of citizens to carry a gun, but this is new to me, anyone know about this law or proposed law?

 

[wheelyfun66]

I think you did not hear the full story.

I have a CCW in NH and family who live there (I live just across the border in VT, where NO permit is required for Concealed carry), and have not heard anything remotely like you are talking about.

What I have heard is that the "Castle Doctrine" (gives the homeowner the right to defend themselves with deadly force inside their home) might be changing in NH.

NH is working on legislation to make home defense more clearly defined as it pertains to the homeowner's right to defend themselves with deadly force WITHOUT first attempting to flee.

In other words, you do not have to attempt to flee (stand your ground principle) first, because you are in your own home.

I read an article pertaining to this the other day, but cannot quote the source.

NH is very gun-friendly, and there is no law about "pointing but not shooting" going on the books.

Thanks!

 

[everReady Rob]

Thanks for clarifying, it made no sense to me.

 

[MHL555]

NH RSA

Rob, This may help. Brandishing/Displayinging

361:1 New Paragraph; Physical Force in Defense of a Person. Amend RSA 627:4 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:

II-a. A person who responds to a threat which would be considered by a reasonable person as likely to cause serious bodily injury or death to the person or to another by displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense with the intent to warn away the person making the threat shall not have committed a criminal act.

361:2 New Paragraph; Criminal Threatening. Amend RSA 631:4 by inserting after paragraph III the following new paragraph:

IV. A person who responds to a threat which would be considered by a reasonable person as likely to cause serious bodily injury or death to the person or to another by displaying a firearm or other means of self-defense with the intent to warn away the person making the threat shall not have committed a criminal act under this section.

361:3 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2011.
Be safe, mark