Thursday, January 24, 2013

"Stand Your Ground" Under Attack

Ironic, huh?

The NH House Criminal Justice Committee hears testimony regarding HB135, "Relative to physical force in defense of a person and relative to the definition of non-deadly force" -- the proposed repeal of last session's "stand your ground" law -- 1/22/2013.

Oh, and this happened. Just short of the 13-minute mark of Part 1 (of 3). About 10 minutes later, Rep. Dan Itse appears to reference the Chair's condescension.

When can you "know" you can retreat "with complete safety?" Correct: Never. So if you are legitimately threatened (and if you're not, then you're not justified in the first place, right?), and in that circumstance justifying that self-defense you are also never certain that retreat is completely safe, and thus never required to run away, what is the purpose of the change? What does it accomplish, other than to embolden criminals -- to prey, and to subsequently sue?

Press:

Preview




Part 1



Part 2



Part 3



Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Industrial Hemp Re-enters the Machine

There are few words remaining to describe the unfathomable cognitive disconnect that continues to impede the modern-day agricultural cultivation of and economic benefit from (remember, you may use it, you just can't grow it -- you must pay other countries to grow it for you...) such an ancient, versatile and valuable plant as industrial hemp. Just last year, a very similar bill, the odyssey of which can be traced back starting here, went down accompanied by much stupefying legislative indifference.

This is the commencement of this year's journey, beginning with the public hearing for HB153, "Prohibiting the designation of industrial hemp as a controlled substance," before the NH House Criminal Justice Committee, 1/22/2013. The viewer will note that there was no testimony opposed. The closest the prohibitionists got was AAG Anne Rice wagging a finger and stating that it's still illegal according to the overstepping feds -- as if the 10th Amendment requires that we submit regardless. But the accuracy of that assertion was quickly challenged anyway by New Hempshire Foundation's Kevin Bloom, whom we'll see, too, in the teaser video.

But first, here again is the federal government's (taxpayer-funded) position on the domestic production of industrial hemp -- before the petroleum and paper industries and the police-prosecutor-prison-industrial complex (which needs more laws to grow their businesses, after all) told 'em to knock it off, that is...




Onward...





Monday, January 21, 2013

"Gun Appreciation Day," Concord, NH

NH state Rep. Al Baldasaro addresses the NH edition of a national rally (AKA "Guns Across America") this day in support of the 2nd Amendment right to self-defense, in front of the NH State House, 1/19/2013.

The referenced state legislative bill, HB135, has its House Criminal Justice Committee hearing this Tuesday, 1/22/2013, at 1:30pm. With sufficient attendance, it should get moved to Representatives' Hall in the State House. Do try to ensure that relocation with your presence, if at all possible.

Next, if you missed this rally (and it was pretty quickly put together, so you can be forgiven), another 2nd Amendment Rally is scheduled for the same location on 1/31/2013 at noon.

Additionally, Free State Project activists take the opportunity to thank Rep. Cynthia Chase for her selfless recruitment efforts.

Additional media:


Wednesday, January 9, 2013

What's Important Enough to Trade Your Freedoms For?

Do you have the right to trade others' freedoms for it, too? Ben Franklin famously warned that "security" wasn't it. So... What?
"First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, and then you win."
It's starting to smell like a fight, isn't it? And since the Free State Project won't even officially land in NH until the 20,000 participants are secured, rather ahead of even the most optimistic schedule, too...

NH state representative Cynthia Chase, fearful of losing something, launched something of a firestorm in December 2012 when she advocated in a comment on NH progressive forum BlueHampshire.com (archived here) that people who disagree with her politically should have their freedoms legislated away (but don't stop there -- there's more gold to be found in that thread...).

Because of that exhibited fear of "the single biggest threat the state is facing today," the Free State Project has received a considerable bump in interest.

Consequently, this day activists express their heartfelt gratitude to Ms Chase with the delivery of a lovely flower arrangement to her at the first meeting of her House committee, Children and Family Law, 1/9/2013.

Here's some press surrounding the brouhaha (your humble chronicler really likes saying "brouhaha"...):