HB1642

As an Episcopal priest, I encounter parishioners and people needing pastoral help who feel like they don't have the tools in NH to stay safe when there is a family member who is a danger to themselves or others. I also encounter people who have lost loved ones to suicide and violence and that a law like this could have helped. I support this law as it gives more structure to prevent tragedies. Yes, due process is important and yes we need supportive structures for mental health, but this is a piece of the puzzle that can help.

"Red flag" laws save lives.

Those who are in crisis or are a threat to others should not be in possession of firearms. By temporarily removing the weapon(s) from the person who poses a threat and giving them the time and counceling needed to diffuse the situation can save lives.

Once again you are in a position to pass a bill that would provide protection for our community and individuals who pose a risk to themselves by simply voting yes to HB1642. A majority of NH residents want these protections in place. It is common sense. It is proven to work in other states. Pass an extreme risk protection law now!

common sense restriction to protect the public and public safety

My name is Barbara Finamore, and I strongly support HB 1642. HB 1642 would establish Extreme Risk Protection Orders, often called Red Flag Laws. These are risk-based, time-limited civil orders that follow due process to temporarily remove access to firearms from individuals who pose an extreme risk of harming themselves or others. These laws are about prevention, not punishment. They provide families and law enforcement with a lawful, narrowly tailored tool to act when warning signs are clear and time matters. This approach has broad public support. Maine passed its Red Flag Law with 63% of the vote, and a recent Granite State Poll shows that 75% of Granite Staters support some form of protection order. New Hampshire should listen to its voters. HB 1642 respects constitutional rights while prioritizing safety, especially in moments of crisis when lives are at stake. It is a measured, responsible policy that can prevent tragedies before they occur. I urge you to support HB 1642. Thank you.

I support this bill.

Testimony in Support of HB 1642 I strongly support HB 1642, which establishes Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), as a crucial measure for enhancing public safety and preventing gun violence. This legislation provides a necessary legal framework for temporarily removing firearms from individuals who pose a significant risk of harm to themselves or others. By enabling family members, law enforcement, and other concerned parties to petition the courts for these protective orders, we are empowering communities to take proactive steps to avert potential tragedies. This approach is supported by data indicating that access to firearms significantly increases the risk of suicide and violence, particularly among at-risk individuals. Moreover, HB 1642 ensures due process protections for respondents, allowing them to contest the order and receive a prompt hearing. This balance between urgent safety measures and the rights of individuals reflects a thoughtful and humane approach to gun violence prevention. By streamlining communication between local law enforcement and the judiciary regarding ERPOs, the bill creates a more efficient system for enforcement and compliance. It underscores a commitment to addressing mental health issues and gun safety without infringing on the rights of responsible gun owners. Supporting HB 1642 demonstrates that we can foster safer communities while respecting individual freedoms, a necessary step towards effective public policy.

We need a law to provide due process to temporarily remove access to firearms for those at extreme risk of harming themselves or others. Based on a Granite State poll, 75% of Granite Staters also agree with some sort of protection order. It’s time to take actions that Granite Staters overwhelmingly support in an effort to reduce the number of gun deaths.

An Extreme Risk Protection Order is a risk-based, time-limited civil order that follows due process to temporarily remove access to firearms for those at extreme risk of harming themselves or others. Maine passed a Red Flag with 63% of the vote. Based on a Granite State poll, 75% of Granite Staters also agree with some sort of protection order. I am a survivor of domestic violence in the home and I fully support this.

I support red flag laws. This is common sense

Let us take the steps that help all those at risk for self-harm as well as harm to others. This is a law that makes sense. Let's be as protective of our citizens, young and old as our neighbors in Maine who voted for this law last year.

Common sense regulations please!

I urge you to please pass this bill. I am in full support. Red Flag Laws or Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) help prevent mass shootings and gun suicides, which are often preceded by red flags – warning signs, threats and other dangerous behavior – because they enable individuals like family members and law enforcement officers to petition state courts to intervene and temporarily prevent someone in crisis from accessing firearms. This is risk-based, time-limited civil order. According to The Granite State Poll by UNH Survey Center, most Granite Staters - 75% of those surveyed - agree with a protection order to prevent those who may be at risk to themselves or others from buying a gun. Last year (2025), Maine passed a Red Flag law with 63% of the vote. Anne Jordan, a former Maine public safety commissioner, served as executive director of the Lewiston Commission, an independent body tasked by Gov. Janet Mills to determine the facts leading up to the October 2023 mass shootings in Lewiston. In an OpEd in support of the Red Flag measure, Jordan states, “As learned through the investigation, there were multiple warnings about the would-be shooter. His family contacted law enforcement for help, but law enforcement failed to make contact and our current law (a “yellow” flag law) gave the family no tools to take action themselves… A true ERPO law could have changed that. Either families or law enforcement can go directly to a court and ask a judge to temporarily prevent someone, who a court deems dangerous, from possessing firearms… it empowers families with a second tool. Often, families know best.” Without an ERPO, those who observe dangerous behaviours often have no clear means of intervening to prevent violence. An FBI report that studied active shooter incidents in the United States between 2000 and 2013 revealed that each active shooter displayed 4 to 5 concerning behaviors, observed by spouses, peers and even teachers. While the most common response was to communicate directly to the active shooter before the shooting (83%), only 41% of the cases were reported to law enforcement. This bill would provide families a tool to intervene if there are extreme warning signs.

If a person is dangerous and has access to a gun, they can inflict harm on others. This is an order that follows due process to assist prevent access to a gun if that person is at high risk of harming themselves or others. NH residents support this type of bill and so your vote in support of this would show you are listening to your constituents. Thank you.

Please pass this important bill to save lives. A devastating tragedy could have been avoided in my community if this bill had been law. Thank you !

I'm a mental health clinician and I fully support this bill.