Here are updates on five bills of interest in the State House; four of the five are still in play:
HB 1654 would ban guns in the State House and Legislative Office Building (LOB), with metal detectors at the entrances and felony penalties. The text of the bill is at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/HB1654.html . The Legislative Administration Committee voted against the bill, 15 to 0; the full House killed the bill on February 3 by a vote of 300 to 35. Here are the 35 state representatives who voted in favor of the bill:
Beck, Catriona Democrat Hillsborough 02
Burridge, Delmar Democrat Cheshire 03
Butcher, Suzanne Democrat Cheshire 03
Chase, Claudia Democrat Hillsborough 02
Chininis, Alexis Democrat Hillsborough 10
Clarke, Claire Democrat Merrimack 06
DiFruscia, Anthony Republican Rockingham 04
DiPentima, Rich Democrat Rockingham 16
Farley, Michael Democrat Hillsborough 15
Ford, Susan Democrat Grafton 03
French, Barbara Democrat Merrimack 05
Gile, Mary Democrat Merrimack 10
Hamm, Christine Democrat Merrimack 04
* Hardy, Valerie Democrat Hillsborough 27
Harris, Sandra Democrat Sullivan 04
Harvey, Philip Democrat Hillsborough 01
Henson, John Democrat Rockingham 13
Katsiantonis, Thomas Democrat Hillsborough 15
* Kepner, Susan Democrat Rockingham 15
Levesque, Melanie Democrat Hillsborough 05
Matarazzo, Anthony Democrat Hillsborough 20
McEachern, Paul Democrat Rockingham 16
Merrick, Evalyn Democrat Coos 02
* Moody, Marcia Democrat Rockingham 12
Osborne, Jessie Democrat Merrimack 12
Pilotte, Maurice Democrat Hillsborough 16
Poznanski, Brian Democrat Hillsborough 26
Preston, Philip Democrat Grafton 08
Robertson, Timothy Democrat Cheshire 03
Rogers, Rose Marie Democrat Strafford 01
Shattuck, Gilman Democrat Hillsborough 01
Sweeney, Cynthia Democrat Sullivan 05
Thompson, Robert Democrat Hillsborough 09
Tupper, Frank Democrat Merrimack 06
Vachon, Dennis Democrat Strafford 03
* Three of the four sponsors of the bill. The fourth sponsor was Judith Day, Democrat, Rockingham 13.
HB1635 would ban open carry in any government building or
"place" in the state - including state office buildings, town libraries,
etc. The text of the bill is at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/HB1635.html
. Note that Rep. Dan Eaton, a PGNH
Advisor, submitted a proposed committee amendment that would replace the entire
language of the bill with new language to empower the State House security
staff to "detain" persons violating House rules. THIS BILL IS
STILL IN PLAY as of February 14; the executive session of the Criminal
Justice and Public Safety Committee (to vote on the bill) is scheduled for
February 16. [UPDATE February 16, 11:15 a.m.: The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee just voted 13 to 2 to declare this horrible bill "Inexpedient to Legislate" (ITL).]
HB1665 would decriminalize "switch knives, daggers, and dirks." Its prime sponsor is Representative Jennifer Coffey, Senior Advisor of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. The text of the bill is at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/HB1665.html , and a website dedicated to it is at www.knifelawonline.com . On February 9, the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 19 to 0 "ought to pass with amendment"; the amendment removes the additional criminal penalty for using one of these knives on a person with the intent to commit a crime. The additional penalty was included for the purpose of getting the bill to pass, in a strategy adopted from the 1992 bill that decriminalized sword canes and pistol canes, but the Criminal Justice committee felt that the bill would succeed without it. The House will vote on the bill on Wednesday February 17.
HB1447 would change the process of allowing discharge of a firearm in the "compact area" of a town or city, making it more reasonable; instead of requiring advance permission of the selectmen or police chief, it would require notification of the police chief, and the shooting would be allowed unless the police chief objects. The text of the bill is at http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2010/HB1447.html . The prime sponsor of the bill is Representative David Welch, an Advisor of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. The Criminal Justice Committee voted the bill "ought to pass" by a vote of 18 to 1; the House will vote on the bill on Wednesday February 17.
HB1161 would delete the requirements for a town license to sell pistols and revolvers at retail, made obsolete by the federal requirements of the Gun Control Act of 1968. The prime sponsor of the bill is Representative Dan Eaton, an Advisor of Pro-Gun New Hampshire. The Criminal Justice Committee voted "ought to pass with amendment" by a vote of 17 to 0; the amendment cleans up technical details of the bill. The House will vote on the bill on Wednesday February 17.