In an exclusive interview with NH1 News on Wednesday, Governor Hassan talked about the shootings of two Manchester Police officers by New Hampshire resident Ian MacPherson. In the interview Hassan talked about instituting more gun control. Of course, Hassan leaves out the fact that it was her own employees that failed to deny MacPherson a firearm based on his criminal record.
MacPherson returned on April 1st and since the New Hampshire State Police hadn’t said he was a prohibited person; he was able to legally purchase his firearm. MacPherson didn’t go back to the FFL dealer for almost two weeks. Hassan’s own employees did not respond within that time. They did not do their job. They did not report back to the FFL dealer in the time required by law (or at all) that MacPherson was a prohibited person according to state law.
MacPherson has two criminal charges against him for assault that made him a prohibited person under state statutes. New Hampshire is one of the few states that continues to use their own state database to perform background checks on firearm purchases. They not only run the person through the federal NICS database but have access to all local court records as well. This is supposed to provide instant access for the New Hampshire State Police Permits and Licensing Unit.
Sargeant Sean Haggerty, who runs the Permits and Licensing Unit that runs all of the background checks in the state, made the following statement to theUnion Leader:
State Police Sgt. Sean Haggerty said that if someone has a clean record and no problems, an approval for a handgun sale takes place in about 15 minutes. His office may decide that further research is needed, but after three business days the shop can legally sell the gun.
Even if a sale proceeds, Haggerty said his unit will continue to research the buyer.
The dealer simply did what is required of them by law. Sergeant Haggerty’s unit did not. Clearly MacPherson’s background check was flagged for further review when it did not come back within the first ½ hour like normal background checks do if someone is not a prohibited person or questionable. Haggerty’s unit not only failed to identify MacPherson as a prohibited person within the three days time under the law but they never bothered informing the FFL dealer within the two weeks time that MacPherson went back to purchase the firearm. Is Haggerty lying in his statement?
While Hassan is frothing at the mouth to push more gun control, maybe she should clean up her own department first. Haggerty’s unit failed to do their job and as a result a prohibited person was able to purchase a firearm and shoot two Manchester Police Officers.
