I told you people that all you need for home defense is a phone with 911 on speed dial and I was right.
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[url]www.theunionleader.com/articles_show.html?article=3474[/url]

Taking it slowly:
                           Councilors right to weigh nominee’s gun comments


                           [B]THOMAS A. RAPPA of Woodsville has been nominated as a district judge for Berlin and
                           Gorham. According to Executive Councilor David Wheeler, Rappa told the council that
                           people can call the police when they are threatened; they don’t need guns for self-protection.[/B]
                           This sentiment could indicate Rappa is biased against gun-owners. Granite Staters deserve
                           time to study Rappa’s controversial comment.

                           If Rappa means that police intervention in a life-threatening situation is preferable to a private
                           citizen defending himself, he is right. Guns can be physically and legally dangerous and police
                           have more training and knowledge of the law than the average citizen.

                           But let’s face it: The police can’t arrive quickly enough sometimes and those situations can’t
                           be predicted. That’s why many citizens opt to carry a weapon for personal protection. Some
                           in the law enforcement community resent citizens who refuse to rely solely on the police. For
                           example, the Manchester Police Department asks concealed-carry permit seekers, “For what
                           reason(s) do you make application to carry a pistol in New Hampshire? You must give a
                           reason.” (Emphasis theirs.)

                           Police and judges shouldn’t be deciding whether our reason for wanting a gun is good enough.
                           It’s their job to apprehend, convict and sentence us when we abuse the guns we are
                           constitutionally entitled to carry. Does Rappa see it this way or does he see a larger
                           policy-making role for himself as a district court judge in the North Country?

                           In the cases of many other judicial nominations (such as the last three appointed to the
                           Supreme Court), the Executive Council was not thorough enough and Granite Staters were
                           not given enough time to learn about their records and statements. Thanks to Wheeler’s
                           caution, Rappa’s nomination was tabled by the Executive Council. Now he will not be
                           catapulted onto the bench without sufficient scrutiny as so many other judicial nominees have
                           been.

                           — Bernadette Malone Connolly