Merrimack Rep. Boosts Immunity Bill for Gun Owners

Rep. Lenette Peterson took to the floor of the House of Representatives on Wednesday to help overturn a Judiciary Committee position against a bill to grant immunity to gun owners if their firearm were stolen and used in a crime.

Her speech led to the full House rejecting that committee recommendation. the House then voted 211-151 to pass the bill. House Bill 388 now goes to the Senate for consideration.

Gun owners should not be victimized twice, Peterson, R-Merrimack, argued before the House. If someone were to break into her home and steal her firearm, "I should not be held accountable for the crime that was committed," she said.

Peterson, speaking for the minority of the House Judiciary Committee, said it was similar to a scenario in which one's car was stolen and subsequently used in a crime.

The bill would insert new civil immunity language in the state statute on negligent storage of firearms:

"No person who stores or leaves on premises under that person’s control a loaded or unloaded firearm shall be held liable in a subsequent civil case for the criminal acts of another person who illegally obtains possession or control of such firearm and uses such firearm in the commission of a felony or a misdemeanor."

The state law this bill would amend or add to is here.

The bills sponsors are: Rep. Donald Lebrun, R-Nashua, Rep. Carol McGuire, R-Epsom, Rep. Daniel Eaton, D-Stoddard, Rep. Emily Sandblade, R-Manchester, and Rep. Joseph Pitre, R-Farmington.