Deadly force would no longer be a viable first option in defense of self or others in public place in expected changes to law to be voted on by NH House next week.
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - If New Hampshire changes its stand-your-ground law, deadly force would no longer be a viable first option for someone defending themselves or others in a public place if they could safely retreat from the threat.
The House is voting next week whether to repeal parts of a law that Republicans pushed through two years ago - over a governor's veto and law enforcement's objections. The law allows people to use deadly force to defend themselves any place they have a right to be without having a duty to retreat.
A majority of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee is recommending returning to the old law based on the Castle Doctrine, which says a person does not have to retreat from intruders at home before using deadly force.
