State Rep. Dan Itse, R-Fremont, provides a Republican perspective to what’s going on in the legislature each week for InDepthNH.org readers. An engineer, Itse has represented Rockingham County since 2001.
View from the Inside
By Rep. Dan Itse, R-Fremont
Last week there was no Session. We have passed the deadline for getting Bills that must go to a second Committee out of their first Committee.
Last week and this week are filled with lingering public hearings and jammed with Executive Sessions of the Committees.
In Executive Session the Committee members discuss each bill that they have heard, craft amendments where necessary and make recommendations to the full House on how the Bills out to be disposed of.
The Committee member who makes the motion also has the duty to write the “blurb.” The “blurb” is a description of the bill and the reason for the dispositive motion.
If the minority of the Committee wants a different motion, they can present a minority “blurb.” The “blurbs” are present in the calendar in preparation for each Session day.
The excitement this week was the signing of SB12 “Constitutional Carry,” of which I am a proud co-sponsor. SB12 took effect upon passage (when Governor signed it). It means that no Concealed Carry License will be necessary, though it will still be possible to get one if you want one for reciprocity, or to carry on school grounds.
One of the most interesting things I learned this time around during testimony before the Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety was that carrying a loaded handgun concealed without a license could only be enforced upon otherwise law-abiding citizens.
Because the license application asks questions about criminal background, it in effect requires self-incrimination of career criminals and is therefore unenforceable against them per Part 1, Article 15 of the Constitution of the State of New Hampshire.
As one of the co-sponsors, I was invited to stand near the Governor as he signed it. The Bill signing was one of the best attended I have ever seen. There were about 40 members of the general public and other legislators in addition to the sponsors. As Governor Sununu said, this guarantees the right of the people to protect themselves and their families.
Dan
Hon. Daniel C. Itse
New Hampshire State Representative,
Rockingham County, District 10, Fremont
Government does few things well, and most things poorly; therefore, it should do as little as possible.