New Hampshire: House Committee to Vote on Firearm Seizure Bill

On October 30^th, the New Hampshire state House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold the final executive session on the carry-over House Bill 687, which would allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended and firearms seized without due process. Click below to contact members of the committee.

House Bill 687, sponsored by Representative Debra Altschiller (D-Rockingham 19), would suspend Second Amendment rights following baseless accusations without adequate due process protections. Such orders would be issued after an ex parte hearing where the respondent is not present to challenge allegations made against them.

Further, if the order is vacated after an individual surrenders their firearms, that individual will have to go to court to have their property returned. Because law enforcement would have immunity for any damage done to the firearms while in their possession, there would be no incentive for them to care for the personal property in their custody that was seized.

On top of all of this, filing a false order would only be a misdemeanor, while violating an order would be a Class B felony, punishable by up to three and a half to seven years of imprisonment. Such an extreme disparity could lead to false accusations against many law-abiding individuals.

Again, please click above to contact members of the committee and urge them to OPPOSE House Bill 687.