By Dave Workman
Editor-in-Chief
By a vote of 182-160 Thursday, the New Hampshire House tabled House Bill 609, a controversial measure proponents said would strengthen state preemption, but Republican State Attorney General John Formella warned in a letter to lawmakers would “threaten both public safety and the Second Amendment rights of citizens.”
“This is because,” Formella wrote, “any rules, regulations, and policies that are favorable to gun owners would have to be re-evaluated and readopted through the formal rulemaking process under RSA 541-A, creating the distinct possibility that the overall regulatory environment for gun owners could get worse, not better.”
New Hampshire Public Radio is reporting, “The bill was amended to also include a sunset provision on existing weapons-related policies not already in statute, which could have put the University System of New Hampshire’s authority to prohibit guns on campus in jeopardy.”
Indeed, Democrat State Sen. Tara Reardon, reportedly contended HB609 had become “the backdoor to campus carry.” Still, the bill passed the Senate on a 15-8 party line vote.
The report also said “The measure was driven, in part, by frustration among some staunch Second Amendment advocates that the New Hampshire Department of Transportation has a policy that prohibits contracted plow truck drivers from carrying weapons.”
The bill had eight sponsors, all Republicans. NPR reported the bill faced some opposition from gun rights advocates, including Formella, who warned about “unintended consequences.” NPR said some “staunch gun rights supporters” had also lobbied against the legislation on the grounds that amendment language had been rushed, and could be improved during “a future legislative session.”
Versions of the bill featuring proposed amendments by House and Senate members differ considerably. It is unknown whether this bill can be worked over and introduced during the next legislative session.
