Bad Bill of the Month
HB 135 Bill Sponsored by Rep. Stephen Shurtleff, Merrimack 11
HB 135 STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE….
1. Eliminates the provision allowing a person to use deadly force anywhere he or she has a right to be. (If you are in a dark parking lot, just be ready to run, I guess…)
2. Amends the definition of non-deadly force. (The bill amends by removing, “The act of producing or displaying a weapon shall constitute non deadly force.”)
3. Repeals the provision granting civil immunity for the use of force in certain circumstances. (Be careful about showing your gun in a possibly dangerous situation or you could be in serious trouble…?)
The sponsor of this bill, Rep. Steven Shurtleff, is a retired U. S. Marshall and law enforcement officer. As a “qualified retired law enforcement officer”, he is covered under (LEOSA) the federal Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, to carry a concealed firearm in any jurisdiction in the United States. This means Rep. Shurtleff is immune from the provisions of his own bill! This bill seeks to restrain law abiding citizens from carrying under their Second Amendment rights. However, Rep. Shurtleff will have the right to carry anywhere – anytime. Hypocrisy at its finest? You bet it is. But, our story continues…
At the public hearing of the bill, on Jan. 22, according to Andrew Hemingway (recent candidate for Chairman of the NHGOP),
“…at the NH State House, hundreds of citizens came together to provide testimony to the House Criminal Justice and Safety Committee in regards to HB 135. The citizens who took valuable time out of their busy schedules arrived and gave testimony both in support of and in opposition to HB 135. After a particularly moving statement from a citizen in opposition of HB 135, there were a few who clapped briefly showing their support. It was at this point that the Chair showed her true bias and her true ideology by saying, “Show some respect for the members of this committee. We are forced to sit here and suffer through this…I am not going to tolerate this!” Mr. Hemingway went on to say, “…I am calling for her immediate removal as Chair of the committee. If the burden of listening to voters is too great for the chairwoman, then it is incumbent upon Speaker Norelli to remove her as chair and replace her with one that respects the voice of the people… Following the removal of the Redress of Grievances Committee and now these statements, it is becoming apparent that this Democrat-lead House is not interested in hearing from the citizens of New Hampshire. They were elected to represent the voters of New Hampshire, yet their unwillingness to listen begs the question:
Who exactly are they representing?”
Hmmm…very good question, Andrew. Very good question. HB 135 is a bad bill all the way around. But, don’t forget readers, elected officials work for YOU. YOU vote us in and YOU vote us out. It’s all good.
