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Democratic Lawmaker Wants To Repeal 'Stand Your Ground' Law

A House committee reserved Representatives Hall for the hearing on RGGI, but turnout was much more sparse than the space warranted.
Sam Evans-Brown
A House committee reserved Representatives Hall for the hearing on RGGI, but turnout was much more sparse than the space warranted.

  A Democratic state lawmaker wants to repeal New Hampshire’s so-called Stand Your Ground law.

State Representative Stephen Shurtleff says the law goes too far in giving individuals the right to use deadly force in a public place.

Shurtleff has filed legislation to repeal Stand Your Ground in New Hampshire. The law allows people to use deadly force anywhere they have a right to be if they feel their lives are in danger.

Previously, people had a duty to retreat to safety if possible.

On NHPR’s The Exchange, Shurtleff said the law solves a problem that doesn’t exist in a safe state like New Hampshire.

“Under Stand Your Ground, if a person uses deadly force an inadvertently kills an innocent third party, that family has no civil recourse, and that to me is intolerable.”

A Republican-led Legislature passed the law in 2011, overcoming a veto by former Governor John Lynch and despite opposition by law enforcement. It went into effect last year.

Shurtleff wants to see the state go back to the so-called castle doctrine, which only gives people the right to use deadly force as a first option in their homes.

Governor Maggie Hassan has said she opposes Stand Your Ground.

Michael serves as NHPR's Program Director. Michael came to NHPR in 2012, working as the station's newscast producer/reporter. In 2015, he took on the role of Morning Edition producer. Michael worked for eight years at The Telegraph of Nashua, covering education and working as the metro editor.

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