Support for gun safety needed

Friday, February 15, 2013

To the Editor;

In her letter of Feb. 8, Valerie Ogden seems to have forgotten or omitted some crucial information.

She has forgotten or failed to mention that Brookline and Mason have two representatives in Concord, and seems to have singled out one over the other for a reminder about acting in a more bipartisan manner. How does that work, exactly?

Very curious, especially in light of a new survey that shows that 94 percent of New Hampshire residents favor background checks on anyone attempting to purchase a gun to determine if they have been convicted of a felony; 91 percent favor background checks before anyone could buy a gun at a gun show; 84 percent favor a law to prevent people with mental illness from buying a gun; 64 percent favor a ban on military-style assault weapons; 63 percent favor a federal government database to track all gun sales; and 61 percent favor a ban on ammunition clips that hold more than 10 rounds.

I think it is clear that New Hampshire residents understand the issues around gun control, and I hope that Ms. Ogden would agree that acting in a bipartisan manner doesn’t mean ignoring the will of the majority of people.

Ms. Ogden, I hope you would remind and expect Jack Flanagan to act in a more bipartisan manner as well, even if he didn’t promise to do so after the last election, where he, his party and the party’s leader, Bill O’Brien, received a very clear message that their methods were not supported by an overwhelming majority of New Hampshire voters.

In case you choose not to hold Rep. Flanagan to the same standard that you have set for Rep. Melanie Levesque, let me take this opportunity to say that I expect Mr. Flanagan to act in a bipartisan manner, and he could have no better role models than Levesque and her Democratic colleagues, who have set a new tone in Concord.

I would also expect Mr. Flanagan to listen to his constituents, and take action that makes our state safer.

That would include following the will of the majority and finding common ground with his Democratic colleagues to bring common sense gun safety laws to New Hampshire, and finding a way that allows citizens to feel safe without an unnecessary law that promotes a “shoot first and ask questions later” mentality.

Representatives Flanagan and Levesque, I ask you both to support HB-135.

KEITH F. THOMPSON

Brookline