Pushback Grows Over Effort To Link Campus Guns Bill To Prosthetics Coverage

By ZACH LAIRD, InDepth NH

CONCORD, NH — Some people are upset by a move by legislators that would add an amendment prohibiting gun restrictions on college campuses to a House Bill that requires insurance coverage for adult amputee prosthetics. The bill will be voted on during Thursday’s House session. You can watch the session here on Thursday.

Senate Bill (SB) 408, which would require that insurance companies cover adult amputee prosthetics the same way child prosthetics are covered, previously passed the Senate. Rep. Samuel Farrington, R-Rochester, prime sponsor of House Bill (HB) 1793 — prohibiting public colleges and universities from regulating the possession or carrying of firearms and non-lethal weapons on campus — plans to introduce a floor amendment to add the campus carry bill to SB408, according to Rep. Rosemarie Rung, D-Merrimack.

“I’m opposed to the fact that what I consider the intent of the Republicans to hijack a bill they know will pass, to put something on it that they want passed (but) that was amended in the Senate. It’s essentially called a 'poison-pill bill,' they’re forcing people to choose between prosthetics or guns on campus, and they’re banking on the fact that people who really want the prosthetic coverage to pass will tolerate the campus carry bill,” Rung said.

Rung explained HB 1793 faced heavy opposition from university administrators, anti-violence groups, faculty groups, and the public, as it “would prohibit New Hampshire public colleges and universities from restricting gun possession on campus.” While it passed the House, the Senate amended it to make it a study committee to more thoroughly analyze concerns.

She continued that the Senate’s decision to conduct a study committee was a very wise move because “there was so much opposition to it when that bill was in the House, that I think we need to press the pause button and really look at all the unintended consequences, and take time to listen to all the stakeholders before we prohibit state universities from restricting guns on campus.”

Rung said there were so many bills discussed this term that it’s difficult for the public to track them all, unless a nonprofit or media grabs onto one. She made a post on Facebook Wednesday morning to help spread awareness of the issue.

“I don’t think anybody realized the campus-carry bill as much when I put out that post today about it. I’ve had a lot of engagement with it… I just get frustrated with the fact that the Republicans are attempting to tag on this amendment to a bill that has nothing to do with gun rights. It has nothing to even do with universities, and I think it’s a political ploy that makes people distrust politicians. This is a time where we need to build a lot of trust between people and those that they elect to represent them,” Rung said.

Samantha Collyar, of Merrimack, whose son is an amputee, also opposes the move by legislators. She said the two bills are so unrelated that it’s almost laughable that legislators want to hide one inside another “just because SB408 is so much more popular and is set to pass.”

“My biggest issue right now that I’m opposing is the combination or adding an amendment to SB408 in the attempt to get HB1793 passed… A child’s prosthesis would cost $21,000, and the adult prosthetics are even more than that, and they’re hardly covered by insurance. It’s up to the individual with limb difference to find coverage for tens of thousands of dollars, on top of the premiums they’re already paying for private insurance,” Collyar said.

She said as a parent of an amputee, it’s scary to see individuals with limb difference or disabilities have to fight for accessibility every step of the way, adding: “they’re given so many barriers that the Americans with Disabilities Act tries to help with, but there’s still always going to be that disparity.”

“To see this become a shield essentially for a less-than-popular bill is like a kick in the pants for those that have really worked to get SB408 as far as it’s come… This is something that’s going to affect my son once he turns 20. He runs track and field right now because SB177 has given him that ability, and for him and individuals like him to find these sports and activities they love, just to be faced with a barrier of insurance not covering them is so frustrating,” Collyar said.

She said she would love the Representatives in the House to be a voice of reason for those with disabilities, and wants amputees to recognize that they deserve a bill on their own. She said they deserve to be seen for the struggles they have on their own, without it being overshadowed by a bill that’s going to cause controversy.

The session where the bill will be voted on starts at 10 a.m. Thursday.

Republican Representatives of Merrimack (Bill Boyd, Julie Miles, Maureen Mooney, Jeanine Notter, and Adam Presa) did not return requests to comment.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.