Senate Republicans Disregard Public Safety, Vote OTP/A on HB 307
Contact Name: Marina Altschiller
Phone: (603) 271-3375
CONCORD - Today, Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee disregarded public testimony from law enforcement, the university and community college system, representatives from city water works, and their constituents when they voted Ought to Pass as amended on HB 307 which provides state preemption of the regulation of firearms, ammunition, ammunition components, knives, and firearms components and accessories. During the initial public hearing, 380 signed in to oppose the legislation while only 38 signed in in support.
Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) and Senator Tom Sherman (D-Rye) issued the following statements in response:
Senator Becky Whitley (D-Hopkinton) stated, “This is not a second amendment issue, this is about local control and public safety. To allow individuals to discharge firearms in our children’s playing fields, public parks, near our water sources, or close to our universities creates an unnecessarily dangerous, unregulated environment. This bill would institute punitive measures to intimidate and punish local communities and school districts that choose to enforce common sense public safety measures. To argue otherwise is to argue against local control and in favor of government overreach.”
Senator Tom Sherman (D-Rye) added, “With all that we’ve seen in this country, how can we possibly say that a college campus is a place for a gun to be carried safely? As the parent of a college-aged child, it is unfathomable to me that the state would override a college or university’s ability to protect their students from firearms. The passage of this bill directly contradicts the New Hampshire principle of local control and shows a blatant disregard for public safety.”
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