Reps. Seek to Oust Supporters of 'Stand Your Ground' Repeal

Bolstering the "Honor Your Oath" rally today at the New Hampshire Statehouse, a trio of state representatives have filed a proposed petition for redress to oust the 189 members voting to repeal the state's "stand your ground" law.

The three legislators – Al Baldasaro (R-Londonderry), Lenette Peterson (R-Merrimack) and John Hikel (R-Goffstown) – claim the 189 breached their oath of office.

"My reason for signing this is they have no right taking away Constitutional rights,” Peterson said in an interview Friday. “They are not above the Constitution. Your second-amendment rights are God-given rights, the Constitution just puts it in writing," Peterson said.

The "emergency petition for redress" filed with the House clerk, and which William Tucker posted a copy of on Miscellany Blue website, seeks:

• The immediate removal from office of these 189 disqualified members of the New Hampshire House of Representatives.
• The immediate nullification of any of the votes these 189 members have cast during their current term in office.
• The scheduling of a special election as soon as possible to replace these 189 members with people qualified to be those seats.

“I wanted to go on record and say 'this is my right you are trying to take away,'” Peterson said. “Do I think all 189 of them are going to be impeached? No, probably not.”

Complicating the process, the House at the start of this legislative session voted to do away with a House Redress of Grievances. 

In a related development, Hikel and Jack Kimball have each filed criminal complaints with the Strafford County and Hillsborough County sheriffs offices against House Majority Leader Stephen Shurtleff, D-Penacook, and the 189 members of the House. Shurtleff is the sponsor of House Bill 135. The bill was introduced in the Senate on March 28 and referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee. No hearing is yet scheduled.

Kimball, of the Granite State Patriots Liberty PAC and a former Republican State Committee chairman, is one of the leaders of the "Honor Your Oath" rally today, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at the New Hampshire Statehouse steps.