NH Bill Restricting Police Use of JUSTIFIED Deadly Force

Jan. 18, 2019
I don't know what the politicians in NH are thinking but removing authority for justified lethal force is insane.

Every now and then I’ll say, “Color me confused.”  Sometimes, though, you’ll get a simple, “What the actual f**k!?” out of me. This is one of those second times. There is no doubt that in recent years there has been a push, political and social, to demonize law enforcement officers. From mainstream media reporters and outlets very carefully editing audio and video to make it look like the officer was wrong (when the original audio/video CLEARLY showed the officer was right) to politicians who want to suck up to the criminal element or criminal sympathetic voters in their jurisdictions, the attack has been on-going since at least 2008. Now, just last week as this is written and the event is reported, some politicians in New Hampshire think it would be a good idea to further tie the hands of police officers by “removing legal authority for officers to use deadly force during arrests.”  So… I say again, “What the actual f*&k?!”

Here’s the deal folks – and I’m probably preaching to the choir: law enforcement professionals are warriors first and foremost. Yes, the job encompasses so many different facets of performance that we are times priest, coach, mentor, counselor, handyman, tailor, barber, escort and more, but our first responsibility is to keep the peace. When a criminal is breaking the law and presenting a threat to anyone, it’s our job to intervene. Since the bad guy we are having to act against has already displayed his (or her) willingness to do violence for their own selfish reasons, we have no option but to be willing to use violence against them to stop their actions and we do so to protect both ourselves and the innocent.

Let’s not forget that small fact there at the end: “…and the innocent.” Law enforcement professionals don’t just use force to protect and defend themselves, they use force – as legally, agency and morally justified – to protect those who cannot protect themselves and who, without the intervention of law enforcement professionals, would end up seriously hurt or killed.

I don’t know what these politicians in New Hampshire are thinking. If there is one sure way to make sure that your police officers don’t take enforcement action; don’t defend the innocent and don’t keep the peace, it’s to remove their ultimate authority. What I think these politicians are forgetting is that there is no “low risk” scenario. No matter how friendly and pleasant someone might seem, the police officer encountering them has to be aware of the fact that, at any moment without cause or justification, that person can become an immediate threat. We meet force with force; we don’t roll over, show our belly and hope for a rub. We don’t have a choice. We took an oath. We have a job. We are morally and ethically bound to intervene when someone presents a threat and to neutralize that threat using that minimum force which is necessary.  If “that minimum force which is necessary” means shooting them, then that’s what it means. If you take away that authority to use deadly force – as necessary when justified – then you leave the police in a position of… “Oh, well. Sorry. I can’t help you today. That bad guy is just going to keep raping, robbing or murdering until he runs out of energy or weapons. I’m not allowed to stop him without going to jail myself.”

What reasonable person – anywhere in this great country of ours – would sign up for that? I wouldn’t be a cop in New Hampshire if this law got passed.  I’d be seeking employment elsewhere and driving a damned trash truck. Who would want to be a police officer in a state where you’re prohibited from using lethal force to defend yourself (or someone else) from a lethal attack?  Nope. Not me.

We’ll have to see how this one turns out, but… damn.  What in the world are they thinking in New Hampshire?

About the Author

Lt. Frank Borelli (ret), Editorial Director | Editorial Director

Lt. Frank Borelli is the Editorial Director for the Officer Media Group. Frank brings 20+ years of writing and editing experience in addition to 40 years of law enforcement operations, administration and training experience to the team.

Frank has had numerous books published which are available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, and other major retail outlets.

If you have any comments or questions, you can contact him via email at [email protected].

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