Governor Hassan's Statement on Sustained Veto of HB 512

Statement

Following the New Hampshire House of Representatives sustaining her veto of House Bill 512, Governor Maggie Hassan issued the following statement:

"Police officers and law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day to protect their fellow Granite Staters, and we must ensure that they can do their jobs effectively without fear of facing personal lawsuits and personal fines when they follow lawful orders. House Bill 512 would have subjected members of law enforcement and members of the National Guard to personal civil penalties and lawsuits for taking of firearms, firearm accessories and ammunition during a declared state of emergency, without exception for instances of criminal activity.

"Current law already makes clear that the state cannot confiscate firearms and ammunition as a result of a state of emergency and provides remedies, including compensation to individuals, for property taken during a state of emergency. We should not subject individual members of law enforcement to civil penalties, including fear of losing their lifesavings or home for doing their job appropriately and exercising their lawful duty to maintain public safety. Instead, we must continue working to ensure that our brave and dedicated law enforcement officers have the resources they need to do their jobs so that they can continue to protect the safety of our communities and our state."

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