GOP House Members Strongly Back Risky Gun Bills

Republicans seem to consider the 2nd Amendment to be part of the Ten Commandments. That is, no matter how outlandish, nonsensical, and just plain dangerous a bill regarding guns, members of the GOP overwhelmingly support it. Several important bills dealing with firearms recently came before the State House. HB 334 gives the legislature sole authority to regulate guns on public land or in publicly owned or financed buildings. HB 536 would do away with gun permitting.

HB 334 would permit guns anywhere on public colleges and universities. I taught at public universities for 38 years. In all that time, I never personally encountered or witnessed any situation calling for the use of firearms. The idea of guns on campus is anathema to the philosophy of higher education. In the pursuit of knowledge, colleges and universities promote the open and peaceful discussion and debate of all ideas. The best ideas prevail, not because they are backed by force, but simply because they are the best ideas.

For the safety of my grandchildren, I would do all that I could to discourage them from attending any school that permitted firearms on campus. I'm sure that many parents share this view. To me, a university is hallowed ground. Guns no more belong on a college campus than they do in a church.

The following are the recorded votes on HB 334 of state representatives representing Hampton and North Hampton.

Two of the four Republican state representatives from Hampton who voted (Rice, Sheffert) supported HB 334; two (Nevins, Sullivan) voted against it.

Three Republican state representatives representing North Hampton/Stratham/Exeter supported HB 334 (Abrami, Matt Quandt, Ward); two Democrats (Lovejoy, Schlachman) and three Republicans (Copeland, Marshall Quandt, Peckham) voted against it. HB 334 passed the House 180 yes to 144 no. A large majority of Republicans voted for it; an overwhelmingly large majority of Democrats voted against it.

HB 536 would let residents of New Hampshire carry guns - openly or concealed, loaded or empty - without a permit. At some point, I have to question the mental health of people who find it necessary to carry firearms everywhere they go. What could cause them to consider everyone they meet on the street and every situation in which they find themselves so threatening that they must be prepared to shoot another human being?

The following are the recorded votes on HB 536 of the state legislators representing Hampton  and North Hampton.

Three of five Republican state representatives from Hampton (Rice, Sheffert, Sullivan) supported HB 536; two (Nevins, Waddell) voted against it. 

Four Republican state legislators representing North Hampton/Stratham/Exeter (Abrami, Marshall Quandt, Matt Quandt, Ward) supported HB 536; two Democrats (Lovejoy, Schlachman) and one Republican (Copeland) voted against it. Peckham did not vote. HB 536 passed the House 193 yes to 122 no. A large majority of Republicans voted for it; an overwhelmingly large majority of Democrats voted against it.

All is not lost. Democratic Governor John Lynch will veto both of these bills. Neither the vote recorded for HB 334 nor HB 536 meets the two-thirds standard needed to overturn Lynch's veto. Hopefully, in time, as reason prevails, resistance to these bills will increase assuring their defeat on future override votes.