In the wake of a shooting at a Texas elementary school in which 19 children and two adults were killed, partisan divisions over gun policies remain firm.New Hampshire elected officials on both sides of the issue were unified in feelings of heartache and sorrow, but beyond those feelings, a fundamental difference exists between elected Democrats and Republicans.One side believes more stringent gun laws are needed, and the other does not. In politics, the cycle has become like clockwork: Outrage follows a mass shooting. There are calls for action to address either gun violence or mental health, but little changes are made before the next tragedy. “We’re not powerless to do something about it, and I hope that’s the takeaway from this,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire. “This doesn’t have to be just the way it is in America.”For some time, Democrats have advocated for expanded background checks, red-flag laws meant to take firearms away from at-risk individuals and other gun restrictions in hopes of reducing lethal violence.”When is enough enough?” said state Rep. Amy Bradley, D-Manchester. “When are we going to start prioritizing people — children — over guns?”Current New Hampshire laws generally emphasize and protect 2nd Amendment freedoms.After mass shootings, Republicans say they hear the calls to “do something.””But remember that we’re backstopped by this thing called the Constitution, and passing more gun laws doesn’t seem to work,” said state Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren. “If you look at all the major cities in the country, where they have the most restrictive gun laws in the country, and they have the highest mortality rates from gun violence in the country.”When Democrats last controlled the state Legislature, they passed red-flag legislation that they portrayed as largely a suicide prevention measure. That bill was vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu, who said: “I will continue to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health, as there is much work yet to be done in New Hampshire, but that work cannot come at the expense of the constitutional rights of our citizens.” Both sides agreed there has been progress made on the mental health issue and school security systems. But the fundamental difference on guns remains and doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.
In the wake of a shooting at a Texas elementary school in which 19 children and two adults were killed, partisan divisions over gun policies remain firm.
New Hampshire elected officials on both sides of the issue were unified in feelings of heartache and sorrow, but beyond those feelings, a fundamental difference exists between elected Democrats and Republicans.
One side believes more stringent gun laws are needed, and the other does not.
In politics, the cycle has become like clockwork: Outrage follows a mass shooting. There are calls for action to address either gun violence or mental health, but little changes are made before the next tragedy.
“We’re not powerless to do something about it, and I hope that’s the takeaway from this,” said U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, D-New Hampshire. “This doesn’t have to be just the way it is in America.”
For some time, Democrats have advocated for expanded background checks, red-flag laws meant to take firearms away from at-risk individuals and other gun restrictions in hopes of reducing lethal violence.
“When is enough enough?” said state Rep. Amy Bradley, D-Manchester. “When are we going to start prioritizing people — children — over guns?”
Current New Hampshire laws generally emphasize and protect 2nd Amendment freedoms.
After mass shootings, Republicans say they hear the calls to “do something.”
“But remember that we’re backstopped by this thing called the Constitution, and passing more gun laws doesn’t seem to work,” said state Sen. Bob Giuda, R-Warren. “If you look at all the major cities in the country, where they have the most restrictive gun laws in the country, and they have the highest mortality rates from gun violence in the country.”
When Democrats last controlled the state Legislature, they passed red-flag legislation that they portrayed as largely a suicide prevention measure.
That bill was vetoed by Gov. Chris Sununu, who said: “I will continue to prioritize suicide prevention and mental health, as there is much work yet to be done in New Hampshire, but that work cannot come at the expense of the constitutional rights of our citizens.”
Both sides agreed there has been progress made on the mental health issue and school security systems. But the fundamental difference on guns remains and doesn’t appear to be changing any time soon.
