Cops Fearmonger at State House Hearings To Lessen Weapons Restrictions

Police love to claim they just do what they are told by the legislature. But that’s not all they do. Many actively fight to keep the status quo and not only that increase the police state. Here in this Union Leader piece they come out to state house hearings to allow some felons to possess firearms and engage in fearmongering, including propagating the absurd idea that gun laws prevent criminals from getting and carrying weapons. Absurd.

As we’ve seen with the case of Brad Jardis, any cop that actually speaks out in favor of more freedom is targeted by “the brotherhood” of the “thin blue line” for retaliation, including firing. So, any “good” cops stay silent for fear of losing their job and pension. Therefore, tyranny continues unabated. Here’s the piece from the UL:

The law enforcement community turned out Tuesday to oppose several bills to remove gun restrictions, including one that would allow non-violent felons to possess and carry firearms.

Two of the bills are nearly identical to bills proposed last year that either were killed or included in some fashion a bill expanding the use of deadly force that was approved over Gov. John Lynch’s veto.

House Bill 1375 would allow felons to own firearms if the person was not convicted of a violent crime, which include such crimes as murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, assault, sexual assault, kidnapping, armed robbery, incest, possessing child pornography and witness tampering.

The bill’s prime sponsor, Rep. Andrew Manuse, R-Derry, said that once someone is punished for a crime, that person is considered to have paid their debt to society.

“Punishment is to reform,” Manuse said. “But that’s not how it works.”

He noted a felon loses the right to vote and to possess a firearm. The person can petition to vote after the sentenced is served, he added.

“They can ask for the right to vote back,” he said. “We ought to allow a non-violent felon who has served his time in prison to regain the right to bear arms to protect himself, his family and his property.”

But retired Henniker Police Chief Timothy Russell asked whether the bill would make citizens and communities feel safer.

“Why do we want to afford convicted felons the right to purchase and own firearms?” he asked. “This legislation would allow convicted thieves and drug dealers to purchase and possess firearms.”

He said the annulment process is in place for convicted felons to regain their rights after they show they can live a crime free and productive life.

State Police Maj. Russell Conte said a non-violent felon can be just as dangerous as a violent one. He noted someone convicted of selling drugs is just as dangerous to society, but would be allowed to possess a firearm under the bill.

One of the bill’s sponsors, Rep. George Lambert, R-Litchfield, told the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee Tuesday, if Martha Stewart came to his house for dinner with him and his wife, Stewart could not go out into his backyard and shoot a gun with them because she is convicted felon. Stewart was involved in insider trading and served time in federal prison.

Law enforcement also opposed HB 1341, which would repeal the prohibition against firing a gun in a city or town’s compact zone.

Dean told the committee the opposition used scare tactics against the bill, noting it is impossible to legislate responsible behavior on everyone’s part.

The current law restricts a person’s right to shoot in a compact zone for no rational reason, she said. “There is no basis in safety,” she noted, adding no police chief would give written permission for a firing range within a compact zone because of liability.

Committee member Rep. Phil Greazzo, R-Manchester, asked her, “are you saying anyone in the city of Manchester could have a shooting range in their backyard as long as it is set up safely?”

Dean said a shooting range could not be set up safely on small lots in any city because a backstop cannot be high enough or deep enough under zoning ordinances.

The committee also had a public hearing on HB 1318, which was identical to a bill that was not approved last session, to do away with any licensing requirement to carry a firearm.

The bill would not change current law forbidding felons and others from possessing guns, but does do away with the registration process to carry a concealed weapon.

The committee did not make any recommendations on the bills Tuesday.

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