State leaders in New Hampshire reacted mass shooting Oct. 25 in Lewiston, Maine, with shock and horror. But while Democrats reiterated calls for stricter gun policies in the wake of the violence, Republicans largely said the status quo was sufficient.
As reported by NPR, Maine has relatively few restrictions on gun ownership, and “people age 21 and over don’t need to get a permit before buying, possessing or carrying a rifle like the one reportedly used in the Lewiston mass shooting.”
The state does have a “yellow flag law” that’s meant to keep guns away from people who could harm themselves or others, with some limitations.
“Unlike the red flag laws that are in effect in roughly 20 states, Maine’s yellow flag law does not allow family members to directly petition a judge to order someone to temporarily give up their guns and prohibit them from acquiring new firearms,” Maine Public reported earlier this year. “Only police can issue a request.”
New Hampshire does not have a similar law, nor does it require concealed carry or open carry permits for people who are legally allowed to possess firearms. The state also does not require a waiting period for gun purchases. There is no minimum age for possessing a gun in New Hampshire, though federal law prohibits anyone under 18 from possessing a handgun (though not rifles or shotguns).
Lewiston, Maine (Photo by Hilary Swift, The New York Times)
As lawmakers gathered at the State House to vote on several unrelated bills, House Speaker Sherman Packard said “what happened (in Maine) was horrible,” but not cause for gun reform.
“I think our policies in the state are fine,” he said, declining to elaborate further.
Rep. Bob Lynn, R–Windham, called the situation in Lewiston “a terrible tragedy” but said that, “The problem is not the gun; the problem is the person.”
He said the solution isn’t to enact more gun laws, it’s to enforce existing regulations more effectively.
Lynn and other Republicans, including Sen. Kevin Avard of Nashua, also called for more emphasis on mental health.
“If people want to kill, they’re going to find a way to do it,” Avard said. “I think restricting individuals from the ability to protect themselves is not the answer. I think addressing mental illness is part of the solution.”
House Minority Leader Matt Wilhelm, said the Maine shooting underscored the need for stricter gun laws.
“While we know the commonsense policy solutions required to end this epidemic, elected representatives too often lack the political courage to do the right thing and take action to save lives,” Wilhelm said in an emailed statement. “We can do better — and we must.”
Rep. Allison Knab, D–Stratham, said requiring permits for concealed carry and implementing red flag laws could be places to start.
“People always say New Hampshire is really safe because this hasn’t happened here,” Knab said. “But it just happened in Maine. Nowhere is safe from gun violence in this country anymore. And I think we could really do a lot to improve the gun laws we have in our state.”
Rep. Jared Sullivan, D–Bethlehem, called for a more robust federal response: “I think it really has to be a federal thing, because we have very porous borders within our own states, and so it’d be really easy to go from one state to another.”
Rep. Steve Shurtleff, D–Concord, who formerly served as House speaker, said he’s watching mass shootings happen more frequently. He said requiring more training for those who want to purchase a firearm, checking for a history of mental illness, and putting more money into mental health programs could all help prevent future tragedies.
“I’m a former member of the NRA. I own firearms. I used to hunt. But something’s got to be done, enough is enough,” he said. “I’m not for gun control, but I am for gun regulation. And we need more regulation in our state, but more importantly, across the country.”
— MARA HOPLAMAZIAN/NH PUBLIC RADIO
