Kelly Ayotte on Crime

	Kelly Ayotte on Crime

Strengthen penalties for dealers, end misguided bail reform

On day one, Kelly will work to strengthen penalties for heroin and fentanyl dealers. In particular, Kelly will work with law enforcement to prosecute dealers who come over the NH-MA border from the drug hubs of Lowell and Lawrence to the fullest extent of the law. Kelly will end the revolving door caused by misguided bail reforms that allow dangerous criminals to remain free and harm innocent civilians. Source: 2024 New Hampshire Senate campaign website KellyForNH.com , Aug 1, 2023

Supports capital punishment for police killers

New Hampshire became the 21st state to ban capital punishment as the state Senate voted 16-8 to override the governor's veto of a death-penalty repeal. 16 votes in the 24-member chamber were required to override the veto.

Governor Sununu came within one vote of having his veto sustained in the House, which voted last week to override the veto, 247-123, just meeting the 2/3 requirement.

Supporters of the death penalty focused most of their arguments on a call for justice in the 2006 murder of Manchester police Officer Michael Briggs by convicted felon Michael Addison, who is awaiting execution. Opponents of the repeal measure argued that Addison will escape execution, even though the bill states that the repeal is not retroactive.

Kelly Ayotte, former U.S. Senator and the attorney general who served as chief prosecutor in the Addison trial, expressed disappointment about the state Senate vote in a tweet: "Police killer Michael Addison is the happiest about their vote today."

Source: Manchester Union Leader on 2020 New Hampshire Senate race , May 30, 2019

Tough-on-crime prosecutor

Kelly Ayotte served her home state of New Hampshire for five years as its first female Attorney General where she earned a reputation as a tough on crime prosecutor. While Ayotte was serving as the state's top law enforcement officer, N.H. remained one of the safest states in the nation.

She led efforts to pass tough new laws to crack down on sexual and internet predators. Kelly vigorously pursued prosecution of white collar crimes and public corruption regardless of a person's political party.

Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, ayotteforsenate.com, "About" , Dec 25, 2009

Prosecuted first N.H. capital murder cases in over 60 years

The Manchester Union Leader named Ayotte Citizen of the Year in 2008 for her successful prosecutions of the first capital murder cases in New Hampshire in over 60 years. She served as the Deputy Attorney General and Chief of the Homicide Unit where she led the prosecution of numerous murder cases including the successful prosecution of two defendants for the brutal murders of two Dartmouth professors. Source: 2010 Senate campaign website, ayotteforsenate.com, "About" , Dec 25, 2009

Death penalty needed when police officers killed

Former state attorney general Kelly Ayotte presented herself as a law-and-order Republican. Ayotte cited her record as attorney general and talked about prosecuting Michael Addison, the killer of Manchester police Officer Michael Briggs. "I came to appreciate in a very personal way the sacrifice our law enforcement officers make every day for us, to keep the streets safe," Ayotte said. That is why, she said, she asked for the death penalty for Addison - "the strongest penalty available under law." Source: Shira Schoenberg in Concord Monitor , Aug 12, 2009

Supports capital punishment for certain crimes.

Ayotte supports the CC survey question on capital punishment

The Christian Coalition voter guide [is] one of the most powerful tools Christians have ever had to impact our society during elections. This simple tool has helped educate tens of millions of citizens across this nation as to where candidates for public office stand on key faith and family issues.

The CC survey summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: "Capital punishment for certain crimes, such as first degree murder & terrorism"

Source: Christian Coalition Survey 10-CC-q8 on Aug 11, 2010

Death penalty for killing police officers.

Ayotte signed death penalty for killing police officers

Congressional Summary: Makes the killing or attempted killing of a law enforcement officer, firefighter, or other first responder an aggravating factor in death penalty determinations [when] the defendant killed or attempted to kill a person who is authorized by law:

to engage in or supervise the prevention, detention, investigation, or prosecution, or the incarceration of any person for any criminal violation of law;
to apprehend, arrest, or prosecute an individual for any criminal violation of law; or
to be a firefighter or other first responder.
And that the person was killed--
while he or she was engaged in the performance of his or her official duties;
because of the performance of his or her official duties; or
because of his or her status as a public official or employee.

Opposing argument: [Sen. Bernie Sanders, Oct. 13, 2015]: `Black lives matter. The African American community knows that on any given day some innocent person like Sandra Bland can get into a car, and three days later she`s dead in jail. We need to combat institutional racism from top to bottom, and we need major reforms in a broken criminal justice system. I intend to make sure people have education and jobs rather than jail cells.`

Opposing argument: [ACLU of Louisiana, July 7, 2015]: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a bill into law that makes targeting a police officer a hate crime. Passage of such bills is a top priority for a national organization called Blue Lives Matter, which was formed in response to the Black Lives Matter movement. [A video captured] `police killing a black man who was minding his own business,` says the director of ACLU-LA. But it was the civil rights of police officers that Edwards was concerned about, as if theirs were being routinely violated: `I`m not aware of any evidence that police officers have been victimized that would justify giving them special protection.`

Source: Thin Blue Line Act 16-S2034 on Feb 9, 2015

Rated 73% by the NAPO, indicating a moderate stance on police issues.

Ayotte scores 73% by the NAPO on crime & police issues

Ratings by the National Association of Police Organizations indicate support or opposition to issues of importance to police and crime. The organization`s self-description: `The National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) is a coalition of police units and associations from across the United States. NAPO was organized for the purpose of advancing the interests of America`s law enforcement officers through legislative advocacy, political action, and education.

`Increasingly, the rights and interests of law enforcement officers have been the subject of legislative, executive, and judicial action in the nation’s capital. NAPO works to influence the course of national affairs where law enforcement interests are concerned. The following list includes examples of NAPO’s accomplishments:

Enactment of the Fair Sentencing Act
Enactment of the National AMBER Alert Act
Enactment of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
Enactment of the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act
Enactment of the Law Enforcement Officers` Safety Act (Right to Carry Legislation)

VoteMatch scoring for the NAPO ratings is as follows:

0%-50%: soft on crime and police issues;
50%-75%: mixed record on crime and police issues;
75%-100%: tough on crime and police issues.

Source: NAPO ratings on Congress and politicians 2014_NAPO on Dec 31, 2014

Click here for definitions & background information on Crime. Click here for a summary of all issue stances of Kelly Ayotte. Click here for a Wikipedia profile of Kelly Ayotte. Click here for a Ballotpedia profile of Kelly Ayotte. Click here for VoteMatch responses by Kelly Ayotte. Click here for issue positions of other NH politicians. Click here for NH primary archives. Click here for NH secondary archives.
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