Gun Violence Prevention Plan
Joyce Craig’s Gun Violence Prevention Plan
The shooting in Lewiston, Maine showed all of us that Northern New England is not immune to acts of extreme gun violence. Like Maine, New Hampshire has some of the weakest gun laws in the entire country, making it easier for dangerous individuals to acquire guns and cause harm to our communities. Common sense gun safety legislation such as universal background checks, requiring permits to carry a concealed gun, and extreme risk protection orders are necessary steps to prevent gun violence and limit the potential for a devastating mass shooting in our state.
As Mayor, Joyce Craig has worked with law enforcement to reduce gun violence in Manchester. They implemented the City’s first ‘Gun Violence Reduction Strategy' in May of 2022, and after one year, crimes committed with guns in Manchester were down 32% and gunfire incidents were down 52%. The strategy was developed using a community-centered approach to identifying, analyzing, and developing evidence based responses to the gun violence public safety issue in the community.
Mayor Craig has worked with our federal delegation to fund technology that helps law enforcement reduce acts of gun violence in both schools and the broader community. They funded new gunshot recognition technology to improve response rates to gun fire incidents as well as helping to locate key evidence in gun crimes. Recently, they established ‘School Safety Teams’ that will conduct behavioral threat assessments and prevent acts of school violence.
There is nothing more important than the safety of our residents and communities and these common sense gun safety proposals have had a proven impact on reducing gun violence in other states. In recent years, a number of gun safety bills have passed the state legislature, only to be vetoed by our governor. New Hampshire needs a governor who will work to pass common sense gun safety legislation and sign policies into law that will keep our residents safe from gun violence.
Gun Violence Prevention Policies for New Hampshire
Pass Universal Background Checks. New Hampshire has a loophole that allows private sales of guns without a background check. Criminal background checks should be performed for all gun purchases to ensure guns are not sold to anyone who is a threat to our communities or themselves—including violent criminals, domestic abusers, and people with red flags from law enforcement.
Prohibit Guns in K-12 Schools. Schools in New Hampshire should be gun-free zones. New Hampshire has no laws preventing any adult from carrying a concealed gun into schools.
Reinstate Permits for Concealed Carry. New Hampshire’s concealed carry permit requirement was repealed in 2017 against the recommendation of New Hampshire law enforcement officials and puts communities at risk. This common sense permit requirement will allow local law enforcement to ensure standards are met before individuals can carry a concealed weapon.
Implement Three-Day Waiting Period for Gun Purchases. Waiting periods for gun purchases can reduce firearm suicide attempts and reduce gun homicides by 17%.
Pass an Extreme Risk Protection Order Law. An extreme risk protection order, also known as a red flag law, allows family members and law enforcement to petition a court to keep guns away from dangerous individuals that present a risk to themselves and the public.
Ban the Sale of Assault Weapons and High Capacity Magazines. Ban the sale of weapons designed for war, including semi-automatic guns and high capacity magazines, which have been at the core of the deadliest mass casualty shootings across the country, including Lewiston. They have no place on our streets.
Ban Untraceable “Ghost Guns.” Technology now exists that allows individuals to produce untraceable and undetectable “ghost guns.” New Hampshire needs laws prohibiting the manufacture of undetectable guns and registration requirements for guns that are produced by individuals.
Fund Municipal Gun Reduction Strategies and School Safety Programs. Make state grants available to municipal police departments and school districts to implement proven strategies to reduce gun violence and school safety programs.
Close the Hate Crime Loophole. According to the New Hampshire Attorney General, hate crimes and incidents of extremism have risen significantly in the state, but New Hampshire has limited laws preventing access to guns by individuals convicted of misdemeanor hate crimes.
Safe Storage and Mandatory Reporting for Lost and Stolen Guns. Gun owners should be responsible for the safe and locked storage of their guns to ensure they are not accessible to children. New Hampshire also has no requirement for gun owners to report lost or stolen guns, allowing more weapons to end up in the hands of individuals who should not have access to a deadly weapon.