NH: Public Hearing to REMOVE the right to self-defense (01/22/13)

is there a way to post comments in these papers without having an FB account (I don't have one)? I do have a hotmail account just for junk mail and even though it looks like you can link comments through one's HM account, it ends up still asking for you to log into your FB account. I really don't want to open up a FB account again (I took mine down about a year ago)...
 
Lawyers say 'stand your ground' works


Chichester defense attorney Mark Sisti, whose client Ward Bird was convicted of waving a gun at a woman on his property and later had his sentence commuted, said he isn't aware of the 'Stand Your Ground' law having been used as a defense.

By DALE VINCENT
New Hampshire Union Leader

Chichester defense attorney Mark Sisti, whose client Ward Bird was convicted of waving a gun at a woman on his property and later had his sentence commuted, said he isn't aware of the 'Stand Your Ground' law having been used as a defense.

There's no way to know, Sisti said, but it may be that police are using discretion and not charging people who would be able to use the defense successfully.

Bird was convicted of felony criminal threatening, but not reckless conduct, for waving a gun at a woman who trespassed on his property in March 2006 after getting lost trying to find property she was interested in purchasing. She did not leave when he cursed at her and ordered her off his property, but she said when she finally got back into her vehicle he charged off his porch at her waving the gun and scaring her.

Bird's mandatory prison term was commuted by the Executive Council after Gov. John Lynch negated an initial council vote to pardon Bird.

At the time, the use of deadly force was allowed only in the home and attached property - the Castle doctrine. The current law, which was proposed by Bird supporters, permits the use of deadly force any place a person has a right to be.

Sisti said he hasn't talked with House Majority Leader Rep. Steven Shurtleff, D-Concord, the prime sponsor of House Bill 135, which would repeal the state's year-old "stand your ground" law. But he said: "I'm not seeing a downside to the (stand your ground) law."

Manchester defense attorney David Ruoff, who was a prosecutor for years, also couldn't recall any use of the new law. He agrees with Sisti's assessment of the "stand your ground" law's effect.

"The change was less directed toward jury trials," Ruoff said. It was about "trying to get prosecutors not to indict and police not to charge."

Sisti said the law may deflect violence by making it clear people don't have to retreat. If anyone could be carrying a weapon, Sisti said, "Why would you bring on a confrontation?"

Sisti said there are situations in which use of deadly force would be justified, even when you aren't on your own property. If you were the victim in a road rage incident, he said, "You don't have to go 110 miles per hour to escape."

Supporters of the repeal say the current law could cost innocent lives.

Ruoff disagrees. He said the law makes clear "there is no duty to retreat in a public place" and said it can serve as a deterrent.

Londonderry defense attorney Richard Monteith, who also could not recall a use of the new law as a defense, said he had a case a number of years ago that would have been tailor-made for the "stand your ground" law.

Monteith said a young man in a car, being chased by two men in another car, was convinced the men intended to kill him.

As he fled toward his home, he called his father on his cell phone.

The father, understandably alarmed, grabbed a handgun and ran down to the end of his driveway.

"He was right on the end of his lawn," said Monteith. The son pulled in and jumped out of his car and the two other males got out of their car and approached, so the father fired a shot into the air to scare them off.

"He was charged with felony reckless conduct," Monteith said of the father, but if "stand your ground" had been in effect, he probably wouldn't have been charged with anything.

Majority Leader Shurtleff wants to return to the Castle doctrine, which he said served the state well for decades. House Bill 135 would not allow deadly force as self-defense in the public square without first retreating from harm, if possible.

The bill also removes a provision of last year's law that prohibited civil law suits for damages filed by or on behalf of an innocent bystander injured or killed when someone legally uses deadly force.

The bill would also change the law to redefine brandishing so that showing a gun in an intimidating and menacing way would be a criminal act.

The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, which heard from dozens Tuesday during a hearing on the bill, will vote on a recommendation before the bill goes to the House.

Lawyers say 'stand your ground' works | New Hampshire NEWS06

- - - Updated - - -

Four and half hours of video testimony from the Stand Your Ground hearings: http://bikerbillnh.blogspot.com/2013/01/stand-your-ground-under-attack.html
 
"The bill also removes a provision of last year's law that prohibited civil law suits for damages filed by or on behalf of an innocent bystander injured or killed when someone legally uses deadly force."

Really? Mr. Vincent, which RSA prevents injured innocent bystanders from bringing suit?

This one?

627:1-a Civil Immunity. – A person who uses force in self-protection or in the protection of other persons pursuant to RSA 627:4, in the protection of premises and property pursuant to RSA 627:7 and 627:8, in law enforcement pursuant to RSA 627:5, or in the care or welfare of a minor pursuant to RSA 627:6, is justified in using such force and shall be immune from civil liability for personal injuries sustained by a perpetrator which were caused by the acts or omissions of the person as a result of the use of force. In a civil action initiated by or on behalf of a perpetrator against the person, the court shall award the person reasonable attorney's fees, and costs, including but not limited to, expert witness fees, court costs, and compensation for loss of income.

Nope.

None?

Right.
 
not even related


Tuesday in Committee, Room 204 2:00 1/29
They're trying to stop FUN again! Please support your local fireworks dealer.
Incidentally, they sell these in Maine too, so there's your NH fireworks dollar headed East...

HOUSE BILL 336-FN

AN ACT prohibiting the retail sale of certain fireworks devices.

SPONSORS: Rep. Takesian, Hills 37; Rep. Rhodes, Hills 30; Sen. Morse, Dist 22

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill prohibits the retail sale of helicopters, aerial spinners, reloadable aerial shells, and parachute aerial devices. The bill also establishes a violation for permissible fireworks retailers who fail to distribute required safety information to the purchaser.

this shit is never ending
 
Hold down the fort until I get there. WTF is happening to "the live free and die state?"

The moonbats are at it as usual. That's what. They do it every other year. This time it is particularly bad because it's blowback from O'Brien's clown car show. In two years we'll steady the ship. Come on up. We need the ballast.
 
The moonbats are at it as usual. That's what. They do it every other year. This time it is particularly bad because it's blowback from O'Brien's clown car show. In two years we'll steady the ship. Come on up. We need the ballast.

My wife and I were going to spend the weekend looking at houses, but it got pushed back a week because I've been sick all week. I should be up there by no later then July. I just hope it doesn't go communist before I get there.
 
The moonbats are at it as usual. That's what. They do it every other year. This time it is particularly bad because it's blowback from O'Brien's clown car show. In two years we'll steady the ship. Come on up. We need the ballast.

This...

Help us fight.
 
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