Opponents misstate ‘stand your ground’ law
To the editor:
I would like to clear up a misconception that has been published and republished in every paper that has covered the recent public hearing for House Bill 135, which would repeal parts of the so-called “Stand Your Ground” law in New Hampshire.
The primary sponsor of the bill, Representative Stephen Shurtleff, claimed in his testimony to the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that part of the law he wants to repeal, RSA 627:1-a, protects someone from civil litigation if they accidentally injure or kill an innocent bystander while defending themselves. The law that he refers to is this:
“A person who uses force in self-protection or in the protection of other persons ..., in the protection of premises and property ..., in law enforcement ..., or in the care or welfare of a minor ..., is justified in using such force and shall be immune from civil liability for personal injuries sustained by a perpetrator...” (emphasis added).
Throughout the entire proceedings, Rep. Shurtleff and other supporters of HB 135 claimed that under current law, innocent bystanders who are injured or killed have no legal recourse. This is a complete falsehood. Feel free to look it up yourself.
One finds themselves speculating whether Rep. Shurtleff and his co-sponsors and supporters simply haven’t read the law that they wish to repeal, or whether they are deliberately and blatantly misrepresenting the law to further their own cause. In either case, they have no business proposing legislation to “fix” something that isn’t broken, and so-called investigative journalists have no business parroting false information that is so easily verified.
Louis Miller
Rochester
How to find missing EBT recipients
To the editor:
With regards to the 19,000 EBT card recipients that the Department of Transitional Assistance (welfare department) could not find, I have a suggestion.
DTA should close all of those accounts and then require that those who suddenly found their cards not working report to a DTA office to fix the problem.
This should be mandatory requirement and require that they show-up with proof of residence and a valid Social Security card. If this office did this on a regular basis maybe we could cull out the scam artists using the system. If they sent an unannounced mailing at random times and deleted all of the “not at this address” returns and required the above mandatory standard, the taxpayers would reap the benefits of not spending money on persons not eligible.
As a footnote, set up the EBT system to only process in-state usage of these cards.
Charles Hosterman
Methuen
Have we yet reached the tipping point?
To the editor:
President Obama was inaugurated last Monday. He gave his usual “fairness” speech. Gov. Deval Patrick wants more money, $35 billion to be exact, for his budget.
This following paragraph appeared in my email and I think it appropriate for us to reflect and decide if this where we are heading or if we have already reached this point in time:
“You cannot legislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out of prosperity.
“What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving.
“The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not take first from someone else.
“You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.
“When half the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that is the beginning of the end of a nation.”
Marilyn Luther
Haverhill
Thanks for help with clean-up
To the editor:
On Jan. 12, Essex County Greenbelt, in partnership with Groundwork Lawrence, hosted a forest cleanup in the North Canal Historic District on the eastern end of Island Street in Lawrence. Even though the temperatures were in the mid-40s and the sky was overcast, over 30 people volunteered to collect trash and trim back the invasive species bittersweet.
The enthusiastic participants included the Groundwork Lawrence Green Team, the Lawrence High School Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps, and volunteers from the surrounding communities of Amesbury, Andover, Haverhill, Methuen, and North Andover.
Greenbelt and Groundwork Lawrence appreciate the teamwork that helped to efficiently and quickly improve the habitat at this site for nature and society. Also Greenbelt and Groundwork Lawrence thank the City of Lawrence, Department of Public Works, for disposing of the trash and debris that was collected.
Finally, this event would not have been possible without the support of the Massachusetts Land Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT), founded by Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust, which engages the service of AmeriCorps members in efforts to meet critical community needs for land protection and stewardship, conservation education, and youth development through environmental service.
Cricket Wilbur
Essex County Greenbelt Association
Ben Padilla
Groundwork Lawrence
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