Family of Murder Victim to Speak in Opposition of HB700

February 6, 2025 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Alyssa Dandrea, [email protected]

On Friday, February 7 at 11:30 a.m. the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a public hearing on HB700, relative to orders of protection. The Coalition strongly opposes this bill, which weakens New Hampshire’s stalking statute and makes it easier for stalkers to terrorize and even kill their victims.

HB700 will make it harder for judges to remove deadly weapons if there is no evidence of domestic violence in civil stalking cases. Nationally, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 6 men are stalked in their lifetimes, with the majority of victims experiencing physical threats to their safety. In New Hampshire, hundreds of victims of stalking access life-saving services every year through the Coalition’s 12 community-based crisis centers.

Coalition Director of Public Affairs Amanda Grady Sexton said, “HB700, now commonly known as the ‘Stalkers’ Empowerment Act,’ gives dangerous stalkers easier access to deadly weapons. Voters have been clear that they want their elected officials to focus on passing laws that improve public safety. The general public does not support bills like HB700 that will empower and embolden criminals.”

All forms of stalking are dangerous. The idea that stalking is somehow less dangerous outside the context of domestic violence is extremely harmful and ignores the very real experiences of victims in our state. Perpetrators use a virtually endless array of tactics to stalk their victims and are adept at changing their tactics in response to introduced restrictions such as protective orders.

This reality resonates with the VanDalinda family whose father and dog were killed in a brutal attack by a stalker who deliberately ran them over with her truck. The family plans to appear before the House committee on Friday morning to oppose HB700 to send a strong message that this bill is insulting to victims, and the legislature should not be giving it the time of day.
 
About the Coalition:
​NHCADSV is a statewide network of 12 independent member programs committed to ending sexual violence, domestic violence, and stalking, through direct services to victims, community education, and public policy advocacy.