Governor Sununu punted on universal background checks, repealed nearly 100 year old concealed carry law, and supports guns in schools despite outcry from students, educators, and parents

Concord, NH –As a Gubernatorial candidate in 2016, Chris Sununu told voters that he’d support universal background checks and other measures to protect Granite Staters, but his record in office tells a very different story.

Candidate Chris Sununu, 2016: “I do also support universal background checks, where appropriate. To the point of the question, it’s a very important question, when you’re dealing with domestic violence issues, we must be standing up. Both at the local level and at the state level to protect those and families who would be held at risk. That’s one of the first and foremost responsibilities of government. It;s health and safety of individuals. For standing up for them, providing support and making sure they know that we will support them at every turn. So whether it’s limiting guns and making sure that those who would commit violence in homes, that we’re providing those correct background checks, that we’re providing those correct checks and balances – that’s important because it’s important to families, it’s important to the victims.” (Video: NH1 Gubernatorial Debate 2016)

Governor Chris Sununu: “Look, I think the laws we have on firearms in the state are pretty darn good and I’m not looking for any additional restrictions at this time.” (Valley News, Sununu: Gun Laws Fine As Is, 2/9/18) “Speaking to a group of reporters on Wednesday, Gov. Chris Sununu would not say whether he  supports any changes to state-level gun laws in the aftermath of the mass shooting that claimed 17 lives at a Florida high school last week. “I’ve always said and I firmly believe, New Hampshire has some pretty good firearms regulations and laws on the books, I just think we have a tradition of doing this pretty well,” Sununu said.” (NHPR, In Wake of Parkland Shooting, Sununu Says Congress is Right Place to Tackle Gun Reform, 2/21/18) Sununu said prior to the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida on Feb. 14 that he believes the state’s firearms laws are sufficient and he is not in favor of additional restrictions. He reiterated his position after the shootings, saying that gun laws should be debated and decided by Congress. (WMUR, Marchand reveals plan to reduce gun violence, 2/27/18)

As Governor, Chris Sununu punted on closing background check loopholes to keep guns out of the hands of felons and domestic abusers, repealed a nearly 100-year old concealed carry law despite public safety concerns voiced by local law enforcement, and opposed legislation to keep guns out of our children’s schools. Sununu called our lax gun laws “pretty darn good” and doubled down on that sentiment again last week in the WMUR Gubernatorial Debate.

Statement from Granite State Progress Executive Director Zandra Rice Hawkins: “Governor Sununu has an opportunity to join a growing bipartisan group of governors around the country who recognize that gun violence is a serious public health issue and are taking steps to address it. Instead, he continues to side with the corporate gun lobby over the health and safety of Granite Staters.”

Since 2009, Granite State Progress has tracked and weighed in on firearms policy at the state and federal level, and convenes the New Hampshire Gun Violence Prevention Coalition.

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Granite State Progress is a progressive advocacy organization that addresses issues of immediate state and local concern. Granite State Progress works as a communications hub for the progressive community to provide a strong, credible voice in advancing progressive solutions to critical community problems.