History is replete with both saints and scoundrels. An example of the former may be found in Mark Twain’s tale of the prince and the king in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. The two con artists eventually leave town on a rail, justly tarred and feathered.
Real-life examples included Nicolae Ceausescu and Benito Mussolini, who ended up ravaged by an indignant crowd. There have been a few saints, too. Examples include King Solomon, Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela. The problem is that early on, it is not easy to tell one from the other. We dream of the saint but find ourselves saddled with the sinner. Good luck to us all, then, with our president-elect. And to him as well.
Robert Belenky Hanover
Regarding “N.H. Lawmaker Fumbles Gun” in the Jan. 13 Valley News, I note the following:
1. Why do our state legislators carry firearms at the Statehouse? Is the New Hampshire Statehouse a dangerous place?
2. It is ironic that Rep. Carolyn Halstead was about to attend a hearing on full-day kindergarten when her gun fell out of her waistband; it is upsetting that children were nearby. In my book, kindergarten, children and guns do not go together.
3. Why would schools and parents bring children to the Statehouse when some of our legislators are carrying weapons?
4. If the bill to remove the licensing requirement for carrying a concealed weapon is passed, then there will be no control over who carries a concealed weapon. A firearm accidentally dropped in a supermarket by a less responsible person, someone who does not practice gun safety, could result in injury or death of an innocent bystander.
5. Do we really want more people walking around in public with a concealed weapon?
Please write Gov. Chris Sununu asking him not to repeal the licensing requirement for carrying a concealed firearm.
If repeal of the licensing requirement passes, then universal background checks for all firearm purchases become even more necessary. The House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee will hold a hearing on background checks (HB 201) on Thursday at 1 p.m., LOB Room 204, 33 N. State St., Concord. If you are unable to attend, please contact the committee in support of background checks for firearms advertised at gun shows, online or in the classifieds.
Finally, I am not against the Second Amendment. I am for sensible firearms legislation that ensures that only trained, responsible and sensible individuals carry a gun, and not someone like the young man who killed five citizens at the Fort Lauderdale Airport.
Dena B. RomeroHanover
This is from the Huffington Post: “Just when you thought ethics standards couldn’t get much worse on Capitol Hill … it’s emerged that the House GOP quietly changed a rule last week to allow members to keep their records hidden from ethics or criminal investigations. The tweak allows politicians to conceal any information members produce — even suspicious expenditures and budgets — if the Office of Congressional Ethics or the Department of Justice investigates them for criminal activity, the Center for Responsive Politics reports.”
Having been unsuccessful in eviscerating the OCE, the Republicans now have Plan B to protect them. I trust those of you who voted for Republicans in the House are pleased with your results.
Anne Peyton South Strafford