A Divisive, Ridiculous and Dangerous NH Legislature

I am dismayed by the glowing comments made in letters to the editors of our local newspapers in support of NH House Speaker, William O'Brien. I am especially dismayed by those written by our local  representatives, Hansen, Rowe, and Belvin, and Senate leader Bragdon. I have spent 39 years as an adult living in NH and voting in every election and have never seen such a divisive, ridiculous and dangerous legislative body as the current House, dominated by Tea Party ideologists and presided over by the dictatorial Mr. O'Brien.

This legislature was excessively divisive because it continuously pushed social re-engineering and gun laws that are not supported by the majority of NH citizens, repeatedly attempting to sway the more reasonable Senate and to override the governor's veto. Mr. O'Brien publicly browbeat and punished legislators, including those from his own party, that did not agree with his radical agenda and banned news media that he didn't like from public meetings.

It was ridiculous because of the large amount of bizarre occurrences, proposed legislation and resolutions made during sessions and committee meetings. Examples include legislators dropping loaded handguns on the house floor, a proposal to put signs on NH borders warning citizens about liberal laws in MA, reducing the tax on cigarettes which reduced revenues by $3M, a proposal to reference the Magna Carta in any NH law referring to individual liberty, resolutions to establish a State “Terry Schiavo Day” and a State handgun that anyone can purchase on the internet, etc., etc. Why not have a State microwave oven as well?

It was dangerous because of cuts to funding of mental health services, services to the poor and attacks on public education. But the most dangerous work of this legislature was the passage of laws extending the NH castle doctrine for lethal use of force by citizens from defense of their families and homes to defense of anyone, anywhere they may legally be in the State of NH. This is a serious threat to public safety and interferes with the duties of trained law enforcement officers. Having been shot in the back while pheasant hunting by a yahoo that was blasting away at hen birds, I can testify that not all people with loaded guns are rational, reasonable people.