The historians might not agree but a squirrel named P’Nut (cute internet sensation) may have tipped the 2024 Presidential election. He was euthanized after some rabid Karen reported his owners and the Stasi in NY raided his owners’ home. Search warrant, armed invasion, it looked a lot like swatting and P”Nut and his racoon buddy were detained and executed.
For the public good.
The abuse of power, excessive use of (a show of) force, and overreach of the state were hard to miss. A few of us likely had COVID-era PTSD flashbacks.
You couldn’t have picked up a phone? They were in the process of getting a permit!
It made an impression on America, and the world, a few days before the most important election in American history. And oh, by the way. The next one will be no less important, nor the one after that.
As to the matter of domesticated squirrels, (and racoons) in New Hampshire a Legislative Service Request has been issued – the precursor to a fully-fledged bill for consideration, that would make legal “the ownership of domesticated squirrels and raccoons.” 2025-0256 doesn’t have fleshed out language yet but most of the bills outside the budget are less than one page. The bill will likely reference the appropriate statues and then make the “ownership of domesticated squirrels and raccoons,” legal.
I reached out to the prime sponsor, James Spillane, for a comment.
It is my sincere hope that with the passage of this law we can ensure New Hampshire never sees the tragic and heartbreaking government overreach like we witnessed in New York so recently. In addition, passage will allow anyone in New Hampshire who currently has a pet squirrel or raccoon to come out of the shadows, and seek medical treatments, when necessary, without fear. Lastly, the passage of this law will allow our amazing Fish and Game sanctioned rehabilitation facilities to find a home for any squirrels or raccoons they rehabilitate, but that are unable to survive on their own in the wild.
Existing prohibitions are likely based on a presumption that the state needs to shield the people from some public health menace. Well-meaning but misplaced. We do, after all, let people drink themselves stupid – which is not good for them or the community – but do nothing about it until they do something that threatens to harm others or causes actual harm.
The same should be true for a lot of things the government attempts to regulate which are really none of its damn business.
Here’s to the domesticated squirrel bill. We hope it finds its way to governor Ayotte’s desk to become law.
HT to Beth Scaer
