Five leaders from the Peterborough community gave their perspectives on the role and impact of the Second Amendment in New Hampshire at a community discussion Wednesday afternoon at Peterborough Town Library. 

Speaking on the panel were psychologist Robert Vecchiotti, the Rev. Jennifer Walters of All Saints’ Church,  Peterborough Chief of Police Scott Guinard, state Rep. Jonah Wheeler and Manchester based public defender Kim Kossick. Vecchiotti said that in researching the topic, the first thing he learned  about the Second Amendment was that “it is really complicated.” 

“The Founding Fathers wanted to get away from monarchy; they wanted to be sure this wouldn’t happen again. Congress sought to create a well-established militia to keep the states secure,” Vecchiotti said. 

According to Vecchiotti, the question of whether the intention of Second Amendment was to allow citizens to own firearms specifically and solely for the purpose of serving in a community militia, or for independent purposes, is debated to this day. Vecchiotti noted there are currently 466 million firearms in the United States today, averaging to 1.35 guns per person, and that 48,000 people are killed by firearms every year.

Kossick, who is also a candidate for Hillsborough County attorney, spoke about the “real world interaction” of members of the public and gun laws

“A lot of people don’t realize New Hampshire actually has its own Second Amendment, which is more expansive than the federal amendment,” she said. 

Kossick noted that there are many caveats to the law which can take citizens by surprise.

“If you get a DUI, that does not affect gun possession, but if you are stopped with any amount of marijuana, your guns will be taken away. If you have had two misdemeanors, and you get a third misdemeanor, no matter how minor, then you are considered to have a felony, and your guns will be taken away, and it is very hard to get them back,” Kossick said. 

Guinard said as far as issues that affect the Police Department, the main problem is “people coming in from out of state do not understand New Hampshire gun laws.”

“We get calls from people who are new to the state or people who are visiting, and they see someone with a firearm at the store, and they call 911. They are always shocked when we tell them that it is allowed in New Hampshire,” Guinard said. 

Guinard said the Peterborough Police Department offers free gun locks and will store firearms securely for people who are going out of town,  or for residents who may have someone visiting their home who they don’t feel should be around firearms. Guinard added that “we are blessed here in Peterborough. We do not have a lot of gun violence.” 

 Walters spoke from the perspective of previously living in an urban area, where gun violence was a public crisis. 

“The question is, ‘What is the role of the government in keeping our community safe?’ I lived in Philadelphia, and there were random shootings all the time. Every year, neighborhoods put up wooden crosses with T-shirts representing all of the young people killed by gun violence that year. This issue looks really different outside of New Hampshire,” Walters said. 

Wheeler, who serves on the states Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, said the topic is complex.

“Legislating has to be about more than emotional response,” he said.

Wheeler said he advocated for HB 1711, which includes reporting mental health data for firearms background checks. The bill was passed following the fatal shooting of security guard at the state psychiatric hospital in Concord. 

“This was a rare bipartisan bill,” Wheeler said. “All too often, bills fail along party lines. This issue does not need to be partisan. We can respect the culture and traditions of New Hampshire and still keep people safe.”