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 Preshow #1Return to index of stories... |
Police trace the trail of brazen robberies in four seacost towns. |
| Preshow #2 Return to index of stories... |
Personal perspectives and opposing viewpoints on legislation that would let gunowners carry concealed weapons without a permit. |
| Hello Return to index of stories... |
Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. |
| Intro Robbery Spree Return to index of stories... |
Police now say they are looking for two people who are responsible for a crime spree that has hit six convenience stores in four seacoast towns. Two of the stores are located in Exeter. The local community is unnerved and the police are under pressure. Julie Donnelly has the story. |
| Robbery Spree Return to index of stories... |
BOB HALL HAS SEEN A LOT OF THINGS CHANGE IN EXETER DURING THE FORTY SEVEN YEARS HIS FAMILY HAS OWNED THE HIGH STREET GROCERY ONE THING HE HADN'T SEEN - UNTIL THIS PAST SUNDAY, IS A ROBBERY. BUT NOW IT'S ALL EVERYONE CAN TALK ABOUT. SINCE THE ROBBERY, CALLS LIKE THIS ARE FREQUENT. LOYAL CUSTOMERS WANTING TO MAKE SURE HALL'S OK. HALL SAYS HE'S FOCUSING ON THE POSITIVE. THE EXETER POLICE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING WITH OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES TO DO THAT IT'S A BIG JOB AND KANE'S RESOURCES ARE STRETCHED THIN. WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR CLERKS? Do what the robber wants. |
| Tag Spree Return to index of stories... |
The Exeter police department is asking anyone with information to call their crime line at 603-778-9000. |
| Intro Gun Permits Return to index of stories... |
Should gunowners be required to have a permit in order to carry a concealed weapon? Last week, the Senate voted 13-10 to eliminate that requirement. That proposal will now go to the House for debate. We'll discuss that legislation and the issues involved in a few minutes but first, here are two perspectives shaped by real life experiences. |
| Gun Permits Return to index of stories... |
Track: Last September, Bedford police officer Sean Kilbreth was on routine day patrol in this shopping plaza. Bite: Bedford Police Officer: The day in question, I was doing exactly what we're doing now - taking a spin through the lot - out the right side of the cruiser, I saw a white Bonneville with what appeared to be a bullet hole. And that's what drew my attention to the vehicle at first. So I came to the end of the aisle as we are now and as I'm running the plate on my laptop, I'm circling around and coming up behind the vehicle on this aisle here and it's at this point that I notice there's a male and female in the vehicle - I couldn't tell exactly what they were doing. Track: Kilbreth got out and called both of them over to his car. They came but the man refused to be searched. Instead, he pulled out a concealed handgun and ran back to his car. Bedford Police Officer: It was at that point that I came over to this area and took cover behind my vehicle and drew my weapon and I'm standing bladed like this - aiming at his vehicle. Two thoughts ran through my head. One - he's going to give up and throw the gun out - two - he's going to come out shooting. At that point, he was going to dictate what would happen. He chose to come out of the vehicle shooting his weapon at me, and at this point there was an exchange of gunfire. One of the thoughts that ran through my head was - I have a row of stores that are downrange from my bullets and you have to rely heavily on your training that your bullets are going to go exactly where you want them to go. And I remember for a split second seeing all those windows in the background and being very scared for the safety of the people who were behind the suspect. I don't know for sure how many shots were fired, it was a near simultaneous gun battle that ensued. Several windows in my cruiser were shot out as well as the radiator. I was struck in the hip at which point I fell to the ground. When I got back up, the suspect was in his vehicle sitting in the driver's seat and at that point, his shooting had stopped so my shooting stopped. Track: Kilbreth says as tough as police work is now, it will get even harder if the legislature eliminates the requirement for concealed weapons permits. Bedford PoliceOfficer Police officers aren't asking the state to take people's rights to carry guns away. And we're not trying to - we don't want to give people a hard time to do something that the constitution allows them to do. We are just asking for a fair shake here on the streets so that when we are conducting an investigation and stopping people and detaining people, that we have the right to take that person or that gun out of the equation. SO YOUR READING OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS NOT AS ABSOLUTE AS OTHERS? I guess that's a fair statement and I believe most police officers will share my view. The fact of the matter is, guns kill if they're in the wrong hands. A gun sitting on my hood or in the front seat of my car that's been taken out of the equation for a minute while I dispel an alarm isn't going to kill anyone. But that same gun in the hands of someone who wants to do me harm - if I don't have the ability to at least take it out of the equation at that moment in time - somebody could die. Track: But supporters of the bill say people could die waiting for a permit to defend themselves. "That machine gets through the frost allright." Track: These days, Packy Campbell is a real estate developer in Rochester as well as a state rep. But nine years ago, he was managing a pizza shop outside Washington. Campbell: When I was 24 years old, I was robbed at gun point….chased some of them outside.caught one…they were sentenced…told I was perfectly safe. 11:40:00 Due to overcrowding at that county jail, they were released without my knowledge. With the strict gun control laws just outside Washington, I was unable to carry a gun to protect myself. Track: The robbers came back and tried to kill him. Campbell This is the bullet I took in the back of the head when the guy put the gun to the back of my head - and it' pancaked on my skull. Because my head was literally harder than the bullet and I pushed back so the bullet imploded and spread out - and that's still there so it's a good sized lump. …I don't hear so well from my left side. I don't hear the left's argument as well as I used to. And this is a.38 slug intact - STILL IN YOU? Still in me - and this came in and hit between my third and fourth vertebrae. You can see the damage here - and it's still floating around in my neck. A lot of the victims of violent crime haven't been here to testify - and you're not going to have a lot of them - because they're dead. Track: Campbell says he came forward to tell his story, because, he says, there should be no restrictions on the right to defend yourself. For the moms here - imagine this phone call my mom got - imagine the 8 hour ride thinking your son is going to die. Bedford police officer Just asking somebody to go the local police dept. and supply the chief with their name, date of birth to make sure they're not a career criminal and have that right to carry a concealed weapon - is not a lot to ask of a US citizen. |
| Intro Discussion Return to index of stories... |
Two different stories of violent crime - two different conclusions about where safety lies. It's now up the House to decide. Joining me now to discuss the concealed weapons permit legislation are Penny Dean, consulting attorney to the Gun Owners of New Hampshire and a firearms-owner since the age of 4, and Laurel Redden, State Coordinator of the Million Mom March. |
| Discussion 1 Return to index of stories... |
I WANTED TO START BY ASKING EACH OF YOU TO GIVE ME YOUR REACTION TO THOSE STORIES THAT TAKE A POSITION OPPOSITE TO WHAT YOU SUPPORT. LAUREL, PACKY CAMPBELL AS YOU SAW IN THE STORY WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO DEFEND HIMSELF. WAS THAT WRONG, DO YOU THINK? WELL, WE'RE TALKING ALMOST APPLES AND ORANGES. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, YOU KNOW, HE WOULD HAVE THE RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS BOTH OPENLY AND CONCEALED WITH A PERMIT. SO WE LOOK AT THAT SITUATION AND HE FEELS AS THOUGH IF HE WERE ABLE TO CARRY A FIREARM HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DEFEND HIMSELF AGAINST THE INJURIES HE SUSTAINED. MAYBE, MAYBE NOT. IT'S ALWAYS A CRAP SHOOT WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT SOMEBODY WITH A FIREARM. IT'S A VOLATILE SITUATION. SO IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR TRAINING, IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOUR STATE OF MIND AND THE SITUATION. Reporter: PENNY, I'D LIKE TO GET YOUR REACTION TO WHAT OFFICER KILLBREATH WANTS TO KNOW WHICH IS IF SOMEONE IS CARRYING A CONCEALED WEAPON SHOULDN'T THEY HAVE AT LEAST TALKED TO THEIR LOCAL CHIEF. ABSOLUTELY NOT. IN VERMONT THEY HAVEN'T TALKED TO THEIR LOCAL CHIEF FOR HUNDRED YEARS. I HAVE NEVER HEARD IN THE MEDIA AN F.B.I. UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS OR ANY OTHER LOCALLY GATHERED STATISTICS SHOW VERMONT HAS A CRIME RATE. VERMONT HAS ONE OF THE MOST NEGLIGIBLE CRIME RATES IN THE NATION. IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE IN BEDFORD I DON'T BELIEVE THAT GENTLEMAN HAD A LICENSE TO CARRY A FIREARM. THE QUESTION IS, IS HE GOING TO FOLLOW THE LAW? HE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE LAW BEFORE. THEY HAVE A MYRIAD OF CRIMES THEY CAN CHARGE THAT GENTLEMAN WITH. THEY CAN TAKE A PERSON'S FIREARM AWAY. THE PERSON IS SUPPOSED TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AND LOCAL LAWS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY CAN POSSESS A FIREARM. THE TYPE MUCH PERSON WE'RE WORRIED ABOUT CAN'T POSSESS A FIREARM BY LAW. THE CASE I HEAR YOU MAKE ING IS THAT THE RESTRICTIONS ARE IN FACT USELESS. THEY HAVE NO UTILITY. I DON'T THINK YOU WOULD PROBABLY AGREE WITH THAT, LAUREL. WHERE IS THE UTILITY IN HAVING THESE REGULATIONS ENFORCED? THE UTILITY COMES IN THE FACT THAT WE DON'T ALLOW EVERYBODY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE TO PURCHASE FIREARMS WITH THE BENEFIT OF HAVING A BACKGROUND CHECK. 60% OF GUNS ARE SOLD THROUGH FIREARMS LICENSEES WHICH DOES REQUIRE A BACKGROUND CHECK. BUT 40% ARE NOT. THEY'RE SOLD THROUGH PRIVATE TRANSACTIONS. THEY'RE SOLD AT GUN SHOWS. THEY'RE SOLD AT KITCHEN TABLE DEALERS FROM NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, ET CETERA. AS A BASIS FOR GUN OWNERSHIP TO BEGIN WITH, WE ARE ASSURED OF A SOCIETY THAT EVERY GUN OWNER IS ACTUALLY A LAW-ABIDING CITIZEN. YOU TAKE IT THE NEXT STEP FURTHER WE DON'T HAVE ANY ASSURANCE BASE ODD WHO IS CARRYING A FIREARM IN THE EVENT WE TAKE AWAY THIS PERMITTING PROCESS THAT EVERYBODY WHO IS OWNING AND CARRYING A FIREARM AMONG US IS IN FACT A LAW ABIDING CITIZEN. Reporter: WOULD YOU AGREE THAT OUR EXISTING LAWS HERE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE PRETTY RELAXED IN COMPARISON TO THE REST OF THE NATION. ABSOLUTELY NOT. TWO THINGS. NUMBER ONE IT'S NOT A PERMIT. IT'S A LICENSE. THERE'S A HUGE HUGE DIFFERENCE. NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO. 40% OF THE GUNS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE ARE NOT NECESSARILY PRIVATE SALES. NUMBER THREE, THERE IS NO GUN SHOW EXEMPTION. WHEN I GO TO A GUN SHOW, I HAVE TO FILL OUT A 4473 JUST LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE. THE SAME TELEPHONE NUMBER IS CALLED AND THE SAME CHECK IS PERFORMED WHETHER I WENT TO REILLY'S FIREARMS OR TO THE GUN SHOW IN MANCHESTER. THE CHECK IS ABSOLUTELY NO DIFFERENT. NOTHING WHATSOEVER. THAT'S JUST A MYTH. THE SAME TELEPHONE NUMBER IS CALLED. THE SAME 4473. THE FEDERAL FORM IS FILLED OUT. SECONDLY, THERE ARE ABOUT 40 SOME STATES DEPENDING ON YOUR PERSPECTIVE IN THE NATION RIGHT NOW THAT ARE WHAT IS CALLED A SHELL ISSUE STATE WHICH MEANS THE STATE AS A MATTER OF RIGHT HAS TO ISSUE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS THE LICENSE TO CARRY. NEW HAMPSHIRE DOESN'T HAVE LAX LAWS. VERMONT HAS BEEN THERE FOR A HUNDRED YEARS. THEY HAVE NO LAWS. HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT PROBLEMS IN VERMONT? Reporter: I MEAN, WHAT ABOUT THAT ISSUE? I CAN TELL YOU ONE PROBLEM IN VERMONT IS THEIR HOMICIDE RATE. THEY HAVE A HOMICIDE RATE EQUAL TO THAT OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. ALL OF THEIR HOMICIDES WERE BY FIREARM. GIVEN THAT THERE ARE POPULATION AND GIVEN THAT THEY HAVE LOOSER LAWS ON CONCEALED THAN WE DO, THE EXTRAPOLATION AND THE LOGIC BEHIND THIS PARTICULAR BILL IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE SAFER IN NEW HAMPSHIRE BECAUSE MORE PEOPLE WILL BE CARRYING AND CRIMINALS WON'T KNOW. WE DON'T SEE THAT CARRIED OUT IN VERMONT. Reporter: YOU THINK VERMONT HAS A HIDDEN CRIME PROBLEM HERE. IT HAS HALF A MILLION PEOPLE. THEY ARE BASICALLY THE SIZE OF THE SMALL AREA OF OUR STATE. WE HAVE URBAN CENTERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY'RE GLOWING. WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF INFLUX IN TERMS OF POPULATION AND URBAN PROBLEMS THAT ARE COMING ALONG WITH THAT. IT'S AGAIN COMPARING APPLES TO ORANGES. I DON'T BELIEVE DOUBLED THE HOMICIDE RATE. IF YOU LOOK AT F.B.I. UNIFORM CRIME REPORTS STATISTICS OF THE UNITED STATES, THE CITY COUNTY DATA BOOK. I COULD GO ON AND ON. I DIDN'T BRING IT ALL. THAT'S JUST NOT A FACT. Reporter: WE TALK ABOUT HOW PERMITS ARE ISSUED IN THIS STATE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT IS AT ISSUE HERE. YESTERDAY I SPOKE TO CHIEF DAVID BAILEY OF THE BEDFORD PLITS DEPARTMENT ABOUT HOW HE ISSUES PERMITS. WHY DON'T WE TAKE A LISTEN AND SEE WHAT HE SAYS. WE CAN'T TAKE FINGERPRINTS. WE CAN'T TAKE PICTURES. IT'S NOT GUN REGISTRATION. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE TRULY FEEL IS NEEDED AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN AWAY. YOU'RE THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF GIVING OUT PERMITS IN THIS TOWN. YOU WERE TELLING ME IT'S ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE A WEEK. IF I COME TO YOU WITH A SITUATION WHERE I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY OWN SAFETY, ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT AWAY? ABSOLUTELY. I'VE GOT TO DO SOME CHECKS ON YOU. I HAVE TO MAKE SURE YOU'RE NOT A CONVICTED FELON. I'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR RESIDENCE ISN'T THE STATE HOSPITAL, BUT BEARING THOSE TWO SITUATIONS I WILL GIVE YOU THE PERMIT. Reporter: WELL, PENNY, THE SITUATION THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE AT THE HEARING SPOKE ABOUT HAVING TO WAIT A PERIOD OF TIME, 14 DAYS WHICH IS WHAT IS MANDATED IN THE STATE LAW, TO GET A PERMIT. IF CHIEFS HAVE THE DISCRETION TO GIVE IT TO YOU WITHIN A FEW HOURS IN THE SAME DAY IF YOU DESCRIBE AN EMERGENCY SITUATION TO THEM, SHOULDN'T THAT BE ENOUGH? ABSOLUTELY NOT. I CAN GIVE YOU SEVERAL EXAMPLES. FIRST OF ALL, I DON'T BELIEVE THAT ALL THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE REPRESENTED BY THE CHIEF FROM BEDFORD. Reporter: THE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION DID TAKE A VOTE AND IT WAS A UNANIMOUS VOTE. THE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION BUT NOT THE RANK-AND-FILE MEMBERS. THE CHIEF ASSOCIATION TRADITIONALLY IN THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN A VERY ANTI-GUN ORGANIZATION. TRADITIONALLY IN NEW HAMPSHIRE GUN OWNERS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE WORK HAND IN HAND WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE DON'T WANT TO SEE CRIMINALS RUNNING AMOK IN THE STREETS. AS ON AN ATTORNEY IN PRIVATE PRACTICE I'VE SEEN CASES WHERE CHIEFS DO NOT ANSWER LAW ABIDING CITIZENS FOR UP TO A YEAR-AND-A-HALF. IN KERRY SILVER STEEN IN THE TOWN OF ALEXANDRA A CASE I TRIED IN GRAFT ONCOUNTY WE BROUGHT IN THE FOUR INDIVIDUAL BRAVE ENOUGH TO COME IN AGAINST THE CHIEF. HE MADE THEM WAIT A YEAR-AND-A-HALF FOR A LICENSE. Reporter: THERE ARE PENALTIES UNDER THE LAW FOR THAT ARE THEY NOT. THEY'RE NEVER APPLIED. I HAVE NEVER ONCE. NOW IN THEORY THERE'S A PROVISION FOR ATTORNEY'S FEES. YOU KNOW WHAT THE PLYMOUTH DISTRICT COURT TOLD HIM ABOUT THAT? HE SAID YOU'RE HERE NOW. WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM. HE SAID MY CLIENT WAITED TEN MONTHS FOR AN ANSWER. THE LOST OF 14 DAYS, MY CLIENT WAITED TEN MONTHS. Reporter: THAT DOES SOUND LIKE A VIOLATION OF RIGHTS. IS THAT SOMETHING THAT SHOULD CONCERN YOU. AND HE BROUGHT HIS CASE AND WAS HEARD. WHERE'S THE HARM? ABOUT EIGHT-AND-A-HALF MONTHS WITHOUT A LICENSE. IS THAT A PROBLEM? WAS HE A VICTIM OF A CRIME IN THE MEANTIME. FORTUNATELY NOT. THE WHOLE THING IS YOU DON'T GET RAPED IN A MEANTIME IT'S NOT A PROBLEM. IF YOU GET RAPED IS THERE A CIVIL SUIT? CERTAIN THINGS MONEY CAN'T GIVE BACK. IF YOUR DAUGHTER IS KILLED IF YOUR SON IS KILLED OR YOUR HUSBAND IS KILLED HOW MUCH MONEY WILL YOU TAKE FOR THAT? THERE'S NOT A MONETARY AMOUNT THAT YOU CAN PUT THERE. THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOME PEOPLE ARE TERRIFIED. THE FOUR GENTLEMEN WHO WERE KOURJOUS ENOUGH TO COME FORWARD AND TESTIFY, ONE OF THEM AN ADULT MAN WHO HAD BEEN THROUGH THE WAR, WHO HAD BEEN THROUGH THE JUNGLES WAS SITTING SHAKING. HE WAS TERRIFIED OF THE POLICE OFFICER. OF CHIEF IN ALEXANDRA. THE ONLY REASON THESE FOUR MEN CAME FORWARD IS THEY SAID SOMEONE HAS TO STAND UP TO THIS MAN. I TALKED TO DOZENS AND DOZENS OF OTHER S WHO HAVE SAID YOU CAN'T USE MY NAME AND I WON'T COME FORWARD. I'M AFRAID OF RETALIATION, I'M AFRAID OF BEING PULL OVER. I'M AFRAID OF WHATEVER. THERE'S A FEW GOOD CHIEFS OUT THERE WHO WHEN I CALL THEM UP AND I SAY GEE GIVE THIS LETTER TO A LOCAL COUNSELOR YOU GUY S ARE IN VIOLATION OF THE LAW. Reporter: WE DON'T HAVE TOO MUCH TIME LEFT. THERE'S A BEEF WITH SOME CHIEFS HERE. |
| Discussion 2 Return to index of stories... |
BUT IN TERMS OF OFFICERS ON THE STREET, AS OFFICER KILLBREATH TOLD ME WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM HE FELT, YOU KNOW, I SHOULD MENTION HE IS A MEMBER OF THE NRA. HE FEELS THAT POLICE AS A WHOLE DO NOT WANT TO INFRINGE UPON SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS BUT THEIR READ ING IS THAT THERE HAS TO BE THAT BALANCE OF RESPONSIBILITY. I GUESS I WANT TO ASK BOTH OF YOU WHERE IS THERE ROOM FOR COMPROMISE IN THIS? WHERE DO YOU THINK THERE'S ROOM, LAUREL? I'M JUST NOT SURE WHERE IT'S COMING FROM TO BEGIN WITH. I'M NOT SURE WHAT IS ACTUALLY THE REASON TO HAVE THIS LEGISLATION IN THE FIRST PLACE? I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO WITH COMPROMISE. Reporter: HOW WOULD YOU RATE OUR GUN LAWS RIGHT NOW? WELL, IT'S VERY EASY TO GET A FIREARM. IT'S VERY EASY TO CARRY A FIREARM. THE PROBLEM IS THAT GET AGO FIREARM IS NO DIFFERENT IN ALL THOSE 50 STATES OR IN PLACES LIKE CHICAGO ILLINOIS AND WASHINGTON D.C. WHICH HAVE AN ABSOLUTE BAN ON THEM. THE CHECK IS THE SAME CHECK NATIONWIDE. EVERY DEALER CALLS THE SAME NUMBER NATIONWIDE. Reporter: FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSE. EVERY FEDERAL LICENSEE CALLS AN 800 NUMBER TO GET PERMISSION TO SELL OR NOT SELL A FIREARM. IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THEY CALL THE SAME NUMBER. THE EXCEPTION IS IF YOU HAVE A PAN GUN THEN YOU HAVE THE NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE PLACE. ARE THEY GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND ADJUDICATED MENTAL ILLNESS IN THAT CHECK. UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES THEY DO. I DON'T THINK THAT'S RELEVANT BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THE PROBLEM IS HERE IS WHAT MAKES A PERSON SUITABLE OR UNSUITABLE TO CARRY A FIREARM. Reporter: I WANT TO GET TO A CONSTITUTIONAL QUESTION HERE BECAUSE WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND I'LL JUST READ IT BECAUSE IT'S A SHORT ONE. A WELL REGULATED MILITIA BEING NECESSARY TO THE SECURITY OF A FREE STATE, THE RIGHT OF THE PEOPLE TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS SHOULD NOT BE INFRINGED. I'M WONDERING WHEN YOU LOOK AT OTHER THINGS LIKE RIGHT TO FREE ASSEMBLY AND OTHER RIGHT GUARANTEED BY THE CONSTITUTION DOES GETTING A PERMIT FOR A PARADE OR A MARCH ON THE NATIONAL MALL ALSO CONSTITUTE AN INFRINGEMENT ON THAT CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT? TO A LIMITED DEGREE YES BUT I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A DIFFERENT THING. Reporter: IT'S ALWAYS DIFFERENT THOUGH ISN'T IT BECAUSE EACH RIGHT COVERS A DIFFERENT AREA BUT NONETHELESS. NO I THINK THE DIFFERENCE HERE IS THAT MOST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY SEEM TO THINK THE FIRST AMENDMENT IS AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT AND FIND THE FOURTH AMENDMENT AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT. THEY HAVE THE TEN AMENDMENTS WHICH WERE DESIGNED TO BE INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS. THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO DON'T THINK THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS INDIVIDUAL. I'M LIKE WAIT A MINUTE HERE. FIRST AMENDMENT IS INDIVIDUAL. WE GO DOWN THE LINE. Reporter: LAUREL, DO YOU THINK THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS AN INDIVIDUAL RIGHT TO? I THINK IT'S IRRELEVANT. IT DOESN'T MATTER IN WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WHETHER INDIVIDUAL OR COLLECTIVE. Reporter: IT UNDERLIES THE ASUPGS THAT GUIDE THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE THE DECISION. IT'S A RIGHT JUST LIKE ANY OF THE OTHER RIGHTS. TO ME IT DOESN'T DESERVE ANY MORE OR LESS THOUGHT THAN YOUR FREE SPEECH AND YOUR RIGHT TO A FAIR TRIAL, ET CETERA. I DON'T UNDERSTAND THE SPECIAL ELEVATION TO WHICH WE'VE PUT THIS IN THIS COUNTRY. I GUESS THREE YEARS OF LAW SCHOOL HAS TAUGHT ME THERE'S A DIFFERENCE THAT THIS COUNTRY IS A FEDERAL REPUBLIC, IT'S THE FORM OF GOVERNMENT WE'VE CHOSEN. THERE'S BASIC BEDROCK PRINCIPLES THAT WE ALL HAVE TO ADHERE TO. IT'S THE SAME WAY THAT I WILL DEFEND TO MY DEATH PEOPLE'S SPEAKING THINGS ON THE STREET THAT I HATE. Reporter: WE HAVE LESS THAN A MINUTE TO GO. TELL ME WHEN THIS MISCONCEPTION ABOUT THE GUN OWNERS HAVE ABOUT YOUR ORGANIZATION? ONE I GUESS BUSINESS MISCONCEPTION AND IT'S ACTUALLY INTERESTING THAT I GOT AN EMAIL ABOUT THIS FROM SOMEBODY, A GUN OWNER, IS THAT THE MILLION MOM MARCH IS OUT TO TAKE AWAY EVERYBODY'S RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. THIS GENTLEMAN WENT ON TO SAY IF YOU ALL CONCENTRATED ON WERE THINGS LIKE WAITING PERIODS, BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR ALL GUNS SOLD TRAINING FOR PEOPLE WHO CARRY FIREARMS, I'D HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THE MILLION MOM MARCH. IN FACT THOSE ARE THINGS WE ADVOCATE FOR. WE HEAR FROM THE OTHER SIDE ALL THE TIME THAT NO NO NO THAT IS GOING TO INFRINGE ON MY RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. THAT IS ONE COMMON MISCONCEPTION. Reporter: MISCONCEPTION THAT GUN CONTROL ADVOCATES HAVE ABOUT GUN OWNERS? THAT WE'RE ALL A BUNCH OF BACKWARDS HILL BILLYS THAT DRINK BUDWEISER ON FRIDAY AND WE CAN'T SPEAK CLEARLY AND THAT WE'RE THE CRAZY PEOPLE. WHEN THE OPPOSITE IS TRUTH. THE AVERAGE GUN OWNER HAS MORE MONEY AND MORE EDUCATED THAN THE AVERAGE AMERICAN. WHEN YOU CONSIDER THE PRICE OF MOST OF MY FIREARMS IT'S MORE THAN WHAT THE AVERAGE PERSON MAKE A WEEK. TO SAY WE'RE THESE BACKWARDS PEOPLE. Reporter: A BIG COLLECTION OF FIREARMS. I WISH I DID. I DON'T HAVE A BIG COLLECTION. BUT INDIVIDUAL ONES. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT LAW- ABIDING GUN OWNERS SIMPLY DON'T DO ANYTHING WRONG. IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE LAWFULFULLY OWNED FULLY OUGHTIC WEAPON USED IN A CRIME WHICH IS BY A POLICE OFFICER WHO OWNED IT. Reporter: I'LL LEAVE IT THERE. THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US. I SUSPECT I'LL SEE BOTH OF YOU AT THE HOUSE IN THE WEEKS TO COME. THANK YOU. THANK YOU. |
| Web Pointer Return to index of stories... |
That is it for this edition of our program. For more information and links to our guests and interviews, connect with us on-line at nhptv.org. Join our online discussion and tell us what's on your mind. You can also find streaming video of all our broadcasts. |
| Tomorrow Return to index of stories... |
On the next New Hampshire Outlook - New Hampshire reaction to the controversial new Mel Gibson film, "The Passion of the Christ." It's opening to sell out crowds across the country. One New Hampshire theater manager says it's the first movie to sell out at his theater in eleven years. |
| Goodnight Return to index of stories... |
We'll see you next time. Thanks for watching. |
| Tonight 10:00 Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. The debate over the controversial new film, "The Passion of the Christ." Tonight at 10:00 only on New Hampshire Outlook. |
| Intro Waxwings Return to index of stories... |
Finally, bird watchers are reporting delight over their recent observations. This appears to be an "eruption" year for the Bohemian Waxwing in the Granite State. The internet is humming with sightings all over the state. Chip Neal went in search of the Bohemian Waxwing. |
| key: Crime/ Legal Issues/ Law Enforcement Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 02/25/04 22:00 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 04:00 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, Police trace the trail of brazen robberies in four seacost towns. Personal perspectives and opposing viewpoints on legislation that would let gunowners carry concealed weapons without a permit. Hello. I'm Richard Ager. Welcome to NH Outlook. Police now say they are looking for two people who are responsible for a crime spree that has hit six convenience stores in four seacoast towns. Two of the stores are located in Exeter. The local community is unnerved and the police are under pressure. Julie Donnelly has the story. PRODUCER/REPORTER: Julie Donnelly NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Bob Hall\Owner, High Street Grocery, Richard Kane\Exeter Police Chief |
| key: Crime/ Legal Issues/ Law Enforcement Return to index of stories... |
NEW HAMPSHIRE OUTLOOK Air Date/Time: 02/25/04 22:00 HOST: Richard Ager Length: 21:00 minutes In this edition of New Hampshire Outlook, NHPTV's nightly news magazine, Police trace the trail of brazen robberies in four seacost towns. Personal perspectives and opposing viewpoints on legislation that would let gunowners carry concealed weapons without a permit. Should gunowners be required to have a permit in order to carry a concealed weapon? Last week, the Senate voted 13-10 to eliminate that requirement. That proposal will now go to the House for debate. We'll discuss that legislation and the issues involved in a few minutes but first, here are two perspectives shaped by real life experiences. Two different stories of violent crime - two different conclusions about where safety lies. It's now up the House to decide. oining me now to discuss the concealed weapons permit legislation are Penny Dean, consulting attorney to the Gun Owners of New Hampshire and a firearms-owner since the age of 4, and Laurel Redden, State Coordinator of the Million Mom March. PRODUCER/REPORTER: NAME OF PARTICIPANTS: Officer Sean Kilbreth\Bedford Police Dept, Rep. Packy Campbell\R - Rochester\Feb. 10, Penny Dean\Gun Owners of NH, Laurel Redden\Million Mom March Coordinator |
| WEB PROMO Return to index of stories... |
Tonight on New Hampshire Outlook. . Tonight at 10pm on New Hampshire Public Television. |
| website Return to index of stories... |
For information on our program, and links to our guests and interviews, visit our web site at nhptv.org. You can see and hear streaming video of our broadcasts. We want to know what's on your mind. Join our discussion forum and tell us what you're thinking. If you have a story idea or comment on our program, click the feedback button. Or, call us at 800-639-2721. |