We live in a dangerous world. I believe our forefathers had great foresight 1791 when they added the “Bill of Rights” to the United States Constitution which contains the following amendment:
‘A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.’
— Unites States Constitution Amendment II
The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution outlines protection of all citizens with due process. This amendment was written, not such that legislatures and courts could create any process and call it due process, but it was written to limit what government can do to strip a person of rights and property. This is being twisted by federal and state laws where a simple phone call accusing a citizen of anything nefarious can lead to a court order to strip a person of rights or property. The most egregious violations of due process in the State of New Hampshire occurs by the DCYF. Parents can lose their children from a simple anonymous phone call and never have to face the evidence or accuser. Opponents on the left want to add laws restricting gun ownership. In particular, legislation for so called “red flag” laws are being pushed by the left. With red flag laws, a simple anonymous phone call whether or not true and accurate could lead to your firearms being confiscated and you may not have the opportunity to face your accuser and the burden of proof now rests on you instead of the state. In other words, it is guilty until proven innocent which contradicts the heart of due process. I find the prospect of red flag laws troubling due to limits placed on due process. I will not support bills that limit due process.
Additionally, the State of New Hampshire is a “Constitutional Carry” state, meaning a citizen can carry a concealed firearm in public without a permit. Teachers can carry concealed in public schools with specific provisions under New Hampshire laws. What would the outcome be of some of the in-school massacres if shooters knew that teachers were armed? Recently, a man in Minnesota carrying a concealed firearm stopped a mass shooting in a mall. I would note that New Hampshire’s current gun laws favor the Second Amendment, and that New Hampshire is one of eight states that have never seen a mass shooting in a public school. I intend to keep New Hampshire gun laws favorable toward the Second Amendment.