Garcia Campaigns in Penacook

GOP Congressional candidate Marilinda Garcia, R-Salem, fresh from her recent primary win against former state Sen. Gary Lambert, R-Nashua, stopped by Concord’s only gun shop – Pepper Spray Defense on Village Street in Penacook – to meet with supporters and personally thank co-owner Brian Blackden for standing out at the polls, on crutches, with her sign clenched in his teeth. The photo later made the rounds on social media sites the evening of her solid primary win and she said she wanted to personally thank Blackden for helping out with her win.

“It really, actually ... I found it very touching,” she said. “Honestly, that was really amazing.”

Blackden, who said he was supporting Garcia because he liked her political positions and believed it was time to give young people a chance to serve, put together a meet-and-greet at his shop’s new location in Penacook.

A number of politicos including District 11 Republican state representative candidate Ben Taker, former state Representative candidate Pam Ean, former at-large city council candidate Samantha Clattenburg, and others, including some of Blackden’s customers, stopped by to meet the candidate, too.

Garcia spoke with Blackden and co-owner Eric Raymond about the business – which also specializes in high quality pepper spray, camping supplies, police memorabilia, and other items. He and Raymond pointed to the selection of pepper spray and stated that they really want people to be safe and not everyone likes having a gun.

“Not everyone needs guns,” Blackden added. “We’re one of the only gun stores that has that attitude.”

Garcia agreed saying there was a certain comfort level with weapons that some people didn’t have. Blackden added they just wanted people to be safe and that was the most important thing. At the same time, preserving the rights of those individuals who wanted to keep and bear arms was “the big fight.”

After talking to Blackden and Raymond, Garcia took pictures with everyone and said that she was impressed with the shop and had been all around the district talking to small business owners.

“I have not seen one of these yet in a store,” she said, giggling, and pointing to a flashing red light on a stand in the front of the store. “So, that’s neat … it’s great to see a successful business running that has such a personal touch to it, keeping people safe and feeling protected in their homes.”

The campaign, she added, was working hard to raise money and meet as many people in the district as possible in the time left between now and November. She said the general election season was short and would be “over in a flash.”

When asked if she would be taking her harp out on the campaign trail, she laughed and said the campaign was thinking about putting together a band. After playing harp in a number of orchestras and graduating from Tufts University and the New England Conservatory, Garcia began teaching others in the area how to play the instrument before being elected to the House. Maybe late in the race they’ll do some events with the musicians who were working on the effort, she and Communications Director Kenny Cunningham stated.

“Honestly though I don’t have calluses anymore more because I haven’t played a few months now,” she said. “I’ve been busy so … and if you don’t practice, you can’t perform.”

Raymond, afterwards, said it was great to meet her especially after hearing so much about her from his partner. He was also taken aback by some of the neighboring business owners in the village who were angry that the store put up a sign supporting Garcia.

“Everybody should have their opinions about who they want to support,” he said, adding that they decided to invite her over to the store so that people in the community could meet her and find out what’s she’s all about.

Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this article misstated Cunningham’s role in the campaign. He is the communications director.