HB 351

HB 351 addresses negligent storage of firearms and firearm safety devices.

Supporters

David Meuse (D-Portsmouth) wrote the committee report saying the bill ought to pass as amended. He said that firearm deaths due to negligence are the third-leading cause of death for minors. This bill strengthens penalties against those who negligently leave a weapon where a minor can obtain it and then the child uses it recklessly or commits a crime.

In regard to amendment 0592h, Meuse said it received bipartisan support in committee.

Meuse said this bill would not impact responsible firearm owners and that current laws related to preventing children from possessing firearms is very weak. He added that often court cases involving juveniles and firearms are sealed and the media is often concerned with ethical issues reporting on firearm use by children, but it is happening.

Raymond Newman (D-Nashua) echoed sentiments that this will only impact irresponsible firearm owners.

Zandra Rice Hawkins, director of GunSense NH, a project of Granite State Progress had the following statement.

“Our children deserve to grow up in safe homes and communities where guns and ammunition are properly stored. When children have easy, unsupervised access to firearms, it increases the risk of injury or death. Responsible gun owners do not leave firearms improperly stored around young children. GunSense NH condemns the House vote against safe storage of firearms.”

The other comments were also released later.

Tracy Hahn-Burkett, member of the Kent Street Coalition Leadership Team and a member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition:

“Safe storage bills are supported by responsible, law abiding gun owners. They offer additional protection for children and save gun owners from the horror, and the liability, that is a risk whenever an unsecured firearm falls into the hands of a child.”

Rev. Heidi Carrington Heath, Executive Director of NH Council of Churches and a member of the NH Gun Violence Prevention Coalition:

“Gun violence is not just a policy issue, it is a moral, ethical and a theological issue as well. Our societies are only as strong as we care for our children, and when we put our children in unsafe situations where they can cause irreparable harm to themselves or others, we have failed.”

Jonathan Weinberg, a campaign organizer with GunSense NH, a project of Granite State Progress, and a former March for Our Lives student leader inspired by the student response to the Parkland shooting:

“The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each day in America 8 children and teens are injured or killed in shootings involving an improperly stored or misused gun found in the home. This common sense bill is the bare minimum legislators could have done to prevent the death and harm of children, and to keep young children from the horrible experience of causing those tragedies.”

Opponents

Jonathan Stone (R-Claremont) said that federal law has required firearm dealers to sell gun storage since 2005. He added that New Hampshire is already one of the safest states in the country and no one has asked for this law.

Terry Roy (R-Deerfield) said that courts have found that a firearm that is not accessible is considered to be a firearm not meant for use.

Jennifer Rhodes (R-Winchester) said that people should have the right to store their firearms how they like.

On the floor, Stone said that the majority of New Hampshire residents are responsible gun owners.

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Votes

The amendment was not adopted, 184-196. A motion recommending that the bill ought to pass was not adopted 182-203. A motion to indefinitely postpone action on the bill passed 203-183.