Passionate testimony on NH gun bills - News - seacoastonline.com

By Paula Tracy, InDepthNH.org CONCORD Three gun bills aimed at closing loopholes for gun sales, imposing waiting periods for such purchases and banning guns in safe-school zones drew large crowds on both sides Tuesday.Testimony in the Legislature was divided between those who called these common sense measures the state should take to protect its citizens and those who consider them destructive efforts to limit rights under the Second Amendment.All three bills previously passed the House. Members of the Senate Judiciary Committee heard the bills after similarly packed public hearings in the House during the winter.Bette Lasky, a former state senator from Nashua, spoke in favor of all three bills saying she grieves for communities impacted by gun violence. In no way do I see these bills as infringing on Second Amendment rights, Lasky said, adding the measures strike a balance between what is reasonable it is about protection of our citizens. If it protects one life and saves one family the grief then you will have done a really good thing."Lauren LePage of the National Rifle Association opposed all of the bills. Background checks will not prevent criminals from obtaining firearms, LePage said.Background checksHouse Bill 109 would require background checks for private firearms sales and transfers.Prime sponsor, Rep. Katherine Rogers, D-Concord, said there are loopholes for background checks that need closing, particularly at gun shows. While it wont prevent every tragedy it can save lives, she said.The measure makes an exception for transfer of guns between friends and family if you know their background, she said.Opponents argued the legislation creates a document, a register of each sale, which is prohibited under federal law.Susan Olsen, speaking as director of legislation for the Womens Defense League of New Hampshire, said the bill is going to rely on a failed system

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