So who is at fault here? The Union Leader had an article about guns and schools: Gun control backers urge Sununu to veto federal preemption bill. It was about the recently signed into law bill, HB1178, by Governor Sununu (and yes, I’ll thank him for being Consistent on gun politics) that no longer requires State-level law enforcement to cooperate with Federal law enforcement when it comes to enforcing Federal law AND any Presidential Executive Orders that would violate State Law.
The Left is all up in arms over this “nullification”; WHY should they as Democrat-controlled States and Cities have taken the same actions for illegal immigration (and threatening to do the same for abortions)? But I digress as I wanted to point out a fallacy (bordering on a lie?) that the UL quoted without any pushback:
“New Hampshire has some of the barest state laws in the country and this would be ceding to the federal government,” said Sam Levy, senior counsel for Everytown for Gun Safety, a national gun control advocacy group.
Yeah, so what? We also are amongst the safest States in the nation, year over year, for gun crime (note I didn’t say gun violence? It’s ALL crime. Period. And screw the focus group “wording” to disguise what they are trying to accomplish). Why? Our culture. Our sense of self-responsibility and “live and let live” attitude. But here’s the problem:
For example, Levy said New Hampshire is the only state that expresses it’s legal under state law for adults to possess guns on the grounds of a public school.
The federal Gun-Free School Zones Act makes it a federal crime for adults to possess and carry weapons within 1,000 feet of a school.
So Levy said the first – truth. But did he also say the second line? Or was that UL’s Landrigan ” lazy note”? Whichever, it’s wrong. So either Levy is lying or Landrigan didn’t bother to do his homework. I knew that holding an NH Pistol/Revolver License, I COULD legally conceal carry on school grounds. I also know that it has never been litigated here in NH and I’m not sure I want to be the first. That said, I went over to ConcealedCarry.com and looked up the exceptions to the Gun Free School Law:
What Are The Exceptions?
The prohibition of firearms in school zones does not apply if any of the following provisions are met. Note that I’ve added my own commentary in brackets [].(i) on private property not part of school grounds; [like a home or other private property that is within 1000 feet of a school but isn’t public property.]
And that’s the part that either Levy lied or Landrigan got wrong. After all, if a town puts up a new school across from your home, does that automatically deny you your Second Amendment Right? Of course not. And the same exists if you are purchasing a home right across the street.
(ii) if the individual possessing the firearm is licensed to do so by the State in which the school zone is located or a political subdivision of the State, and the law of the State or political subdivision requires that, before an individual obtains such a license, the law enforcement authorities of the State or political subdivision verify that the individual is qualified under law to receive the license; [So if you have a concealed carry permit, license, or another official document which permits you to possess the firearm assuming that there is some qualification standard in order to receive that permit/license.]
There is an application for an NH Pistol/Revolver license here that meets the above qualification and mine was signed by our Chief of Police after my application was approved by the NH State Police. While getting such a license makes it possible to carry reciprocity with other States, it also allows such a holder to go onto school property.
And if you are merely “passing through” that 1000 ft zone and other circumstances:
(iii) that is— [speaking of the firearm itself]
(I) not loaded; and
(II) in a locked container, or a locked firearms rack that is on a motor vehicle;
(iv) by an individual for use in a program approved by a school in the school zone; [like if the individual has the firearm in order to participate in the school’s rifle club](v) by an individual in accordance with a contract entered into between a school in the school zone and the individual or an employer of the individual; [So if the school has hired or contracted an armed security guard for example.]
(vi) by a law enforcement officer acting in his or her official capacity; or
(vii) that is unloaded and is possessed by an individual while traversing school premises for the purpose of gaining access to public or private lands open to hunting, if the entry on school premises is authorized by school authorities.
Let’s add Pelosi to this mix – no, not the past-her-prime one in DC – Andy Pelosi:
Andy Pelosi, executive director of the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, said New Hampshire traditionally has had a very low number of gun incidents around schools, but 11 cases were investigated in 2020-2021.
“Does Governor Sununu really want local law enforcement officials to stand down when someone brings a gun to a school campus?” Pelosi asked.
What a stupid question and was asked only to score political points. Of COURSE, local law enforcement are going to show up. And unlike Parkland and Uvalde, our NH responders are going to make sure that students/staff will “Live” and the criminal will “Die” (either physically as necessary or judicially). HB1178 says NOTHING about this – Pelosi (LIKE the one in DC) is “spinning” something out of the same cloth used in the “The Emperor’s New Clothes” fable.
And it wouldn’t be complete with mentioning Zandra Rice-Hawkins who really is the Executive Director of Granite State Progress (whose mission is to turn NH into Blue Progressive Colorado) but shows us here one of her “pop-up” groups that she changes around depending on the agenda:
Zandra Rice Hawkins, with the left-leaning Granite State Progress, said the bill could end up costing law enforcement agencies, because the federal government could choose not to award discretionary grants to states that do not fully cooperate with them.
Doubtful. Almost completely. This was, IMHO, spin as I doubt that the “Spend more money Quad” (Shaheen, Hassan, Kuster, and Pappas) that have no problem taking Federal money even as it drives us all deeper into that $30 Trillion debt we already have.
Yet, she’s the one that’s the UL featured image even after having very little to say.
I dryly note that the ratio of gun haters to Constitutional Right supporters (see what I just did there?) was 4 to 2. Why cast the dim light on legal, law-abiding gun owners, Kevin? We here at GraniteGrok make SURE that our biases are known (US/NH Constitution, Conservatarian stances).
However, it’s clear that the UL is still slipping Leftward – and never a mention why…
