HB 1423 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2157

04/09

HOUSE BILL 1423

AN ACT relative to justification for use of deadly force in defense of another.

SPONSORS: Rep. Hoell, Merr 13

COMMITTEE: Criminal Justice and Public Safety

ANALYSIS

This bill removes the requirement that a person not be the initial aggressor in order to legally use deadly force in defense of another person.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2157

04/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT relative to justification for use of deadly force in defense of another.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 Physical Force in Defense of Person. Amend RSA 627:4, III(a) to read as follows:

(a) Retreat from the encounter, except that he or she is not required to retreat if he or she is within his or her dwelling, its curtilage, or anywhere he or she has a right to be[, and was not the initial aggressor]; or

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.