Thread by @Granitepolitics

Former Senator Bette Lasky, addressing NH Senate Judiciary Committee in packed room in support of HB109, requiring background checks for commercial firearms sales: "Come together, put aside partisanship and do what is right for the citizens of New Hampshire." #nhpolitics

https://twitter.com/Granitepolitics/status/1123225400698724353?s=19

Throughout hearing, Senator French has asked questions about mental state,+whether it affects sales. Last question was essentially "What makes someone ineligible to own a gun?" French seems to be sincerely seeking information he should already be very familiar with. #nhpolitics

Alan Rice of Gun Owners of America, who is not, let's say, welcome at all gun group after parties, reels out his usual "unconstitutional infringement" argument, among others. #nhpolitics

Steven Stefanik, agitated and emotional, falsely says that deals in parking lots outside gun shows are against the law, denounces Democratic Party, demands, "Do something about the criminals! And the mentally ill." #nhpolitics

NRA-jacketed (non-lobbyist) man worries that NH may export so many guns that there won't be any guns left in New Hampshire. #nhpolitics

Ex-Rep Joe Hannon, speaking for local NRA affiliate Gun Owners of NH, extends usual moth-eaten "law-abiding citizens" claim, arguing that 5th Amendment self-incrimination ban means criminals aren't subject to background checks (no, really) (Hannon is not a lawyer). #nhpolitics

This guy again. "Murder is illegal. There's still murder. ... A gun's an inanimate object. You take away the gun, they'll move on to something else. In England they're running people over with cars." He said a lot more, none of it more intelligent. #nhpolitics

"What if someone's mentally ill through no fault of their own? You're gonna say, you can't have a gun, because you're nuts?" [Actual quote.] #nhpolitics

"This bill ignores basic Constitutional precepts, like the law of Nature, and the law of Nature's God." #nhpolitics

Aaand 2+ hours later, we're on to HB514, imposing a waiting period between the purchase and delivery of a firearm. Crowd has thinned out slightly. #nhpolitics

Sponsor Rogers points out the often transitory nature of suicidal impulses, and the greatly increased lethality of suicide attempts with firearms versus other methods. #nhpolitics

Derry Rep. David Love, Susan Olsen, Kim Morin, NRA rep all say their piece.

Morin's take: "If you want to deal with issue of suicide, do it elsewhere, don't do it in gun control legislation." #nhpolitics

Hampstead GOP Rep. Dennis Green, who sits on the NH House Criminal Justice Committee: "More people commit suicide in this state with needles than with firearms."

Wow. #nhpolitics

More wisdom from Rep. Green: "The US when we had the draft was a lot safer place than we are today.

Firearms are no more than a tool like any tool.

FBI says more ppl are killed w/hammers than firearms. Maybe we should put waiting periods+serial numbers on hammers." #nhpolitics

JR Hoell, Joe Hannon up again. Hannon: "This [firearm purchase waiting period bill] doesn't apply to convicted felons, because they'd have to self-incriminate by doing a background check." Clearly wishes that he was, and very clearly is not, a lawyer. #nhpolitics

Doctor from NAMI, supporting call for waiting period: "The thing about the suicide problem is, it is an impulsive act." #nhpolitics

"The vast majority (of those who attempt suicide without a firearm) recover, and do not have suicidal thoughts." #nhpolitics

After a brief stretch/bathroom/pearl necklace break, we're back with HB564 relative to possession of firearms on school property. Introduced by sponsor Rep. Mary Heath, opposed by former Senator Bob Clegg. #nhpolitics

Goffstown Rep. John Burt: "I personally know a lot of teachers who carry. I don't want you taking that right away from them. ... I'm asking you not to disarm teachers in this state." #nhpolitics

More Burt: "If you pass this bill, and we become totally gun-free zones in our schools, there'll be a school shooting in our state. Their blood will be on your hands." #nhpolitics

Rep. David Love on HB564, which would restrict firearms on school grounds to authorized persons: "This bill is absolute insanity. It's asking for trouble. ... I totally agree with Representative Burt." #nhpolitics

Love: Teachers keep guns in locked drawers
Chair Hennessey: "Aren't u worried about students getting hold of it? Cause I never saw a student who couldn't get into a locked drawer."
Love: "No, bc most students know if they did that, they'd be in a lot of trouble."

Oh.
#nhpolitics

Former GOP Rep. Jim McConnell, defending everyone's right to bring firearms into public schools: "A terrorist group could decide to attack a school and kill everyone." #Wolverines #nhpolitics

Joe Hannon, again. Same stuff, different bill. Stickers won't stop criminals, criminals can get guns from anywhere, so not concerned about theft from teachers desks, yada yada yada. #nhpolitics

Kim Morin: "The other problem is school boards making decisions about who's allowed to practice their God-given rights to protect their children." #nhpolitics

James Gaffney, Angry White Man: "First thing, how many school shootings are there? And who's doing them? Is it Joe Q. Citizen? No, it's not. It's kids who go to those schools. No one's asking the question, why are these kids shooting their fellow kids and teachers." #nhpolitics

[Many, many people are not only asking but researching this question. Being profoundly ignorant of the universe outside your tiny darkened panic room echo chamber is not a virtue, nor does it entitle you to rage, rage against the absence of light.] #nhpolitics

Side note: The three gentlemen celebrating their pearl necklaces are (L-R) NH GOP State Reps David Love, Dennis Green, and John Burt, posing for the camera of Kim Morin (out of sight to the right). #nhpolitics

After a little over six hours, Senate Judiciary's gun bill day is over. Many opinions have been vented, largely unedifyingly, but no minds have been changed. Sic transit gloria tuesday. #nhpolitics