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Dozens of NH gun advocates gather to celebrate their right to conceal carry a gun

March 25, 2017 / NHWomen / 2nd Amendment, Women's Defense League of NH

From NH1 News
By: Katie SchulzNH1.com

CONCORD — Just over a week after Gov. Sununu repealed the concealed carry bill, dozens rallied in frigid temperatures to celebrate their right to bear arms.

Legislative Director of Women’s Defense League of NH Susan Olsen took to the mic to welcome everyone to the 3rd Annual Gun Rights Rally at the State House Saturday.

One by one advocates of the second amendment were called up to the mic. They each told a different story, all with the same point — the right to carry is a constitutional right, and they were proud to point out that New Hampshire is one of 15 states to honor that.

One advocate, Evan Nappen entered the stage with his face covered in a ski mask and a skull represented as his face and said, “today I am the ghost of gun laws past.”

“You know, it’s a cold, cold day here today, very cold,” he said. “But you know what folks? The sun is shining on the golden dome above us. It is shining bright. I was driving up today and saw that sunshine shining off of that and it made me smile. Because we did it. And we did it together. This horrible gun law was just a time bomb ticking to be further used and abused against all of our rights.”

The crowd, and even some live-feed viewers, commended him, obviously satisfied with his speech.

State Rep. Victoria Sullivan approached the mic with a different take on what this repeal means.

“Thomas Jefferson said, laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes,” Sullivan stated. “Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed one.”

From there, Sullivan pointed out a few specific incidents where women of abuse suffered for that exact reason.

“[A woman] who did all the rights things to keep her and her children safe from her ex-husband,” Sullivan said to the crowd. “She went to the police, she filed a restraining order. She called a firearm instructor who then alerted her to the fact that Wisconsin has a 48-hour waiting period for background checks. The woman and her two children were found dead at the hands of her ex-husband 24 hours later.”

Women’s Defense League of NH President Kimberly Morin took to the stage with enough enthusiasm for everyone while she thanked everyone for their support.

“These people [representatives] care nothing about our rights, they want to take our rights away,” she screamed. “We the people, all of you who showed up, who called, who emailed, who got the message out. You all helped make this happen, All of you did this. You helped fight to get your own rights back, Rights that never should have been taken away from us. Ever. We need to hold these people accountable, we need to be vigilant, cause they’re going to come back with some more next time and I promise you that. Yes they will, and I’ll kick their ass then, too.”

V is for victory, v for vigilance, Morin and some of the crowd yelled, as Morin inspired all to fight for their rights as long as they can.