[Updated] Why Does Gilmanton, NH Have an Ordinance Prohibiting Political Signs? - Granite Grok

[Updated] Why Does Gilmanton, NH Have an Ordinance Prohibiting Political Signs?

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[Updated]

The town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire appears to be violating first amendment protections for political speech.

 A New Hampshire town building inspector has asked property owners to take down signs suggesting selectmen don’t support the police, saying the messages appear to violate an ordinance against political signs.

Letters were sent to private property owners regarding signs that said, “We support Gilmanton Police Even if the Selectmen Don’t.”

I don’t have the bandwidth this morning to dig into this in more detail but plan to later.

Is this some weird misunderstanding? Internal malfeasance, as in – there is no ordinance, and the inspector is just in on the intrigue?

I’m looking for a copy of the ordinance, and some idea how this was even passed and never challenged, as well as an inkling of how anyone runs for office if political speech in the form of yard signs is prohibited?

Update: Thanks to Ed Naile for sending me a link with a copy of the ACLU letter and more details c/o the UL.

There is, naturally, town intrigue but I’m not interested in that. According to the reporting, Gilmanton has a zoning ordinance, Article III-F-6, which states that “only signs advertising a business or industry in the Town of Gilmanton shall be permitted.”

This is a clear violation of RSA 676 (thanks again, Ed) and as the NH ACLU points out, “People in New Hampshire have a First Amendment right to place whatever signs they want on their property.”

The ordinance in question violates the state statute, the state Constitution, and the US Constitution.

The town fine for violating Article III-F-6 cannot be collected. That’s not to say they won’t try.

ACLU Letter.

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