Also on today’s menu:
House Agrees To Expanded Gun Background Database
Executive Council Addresses Homeless Needs
Joseph P. Vaillancourt III of Rumney is facing charges of reckless conduct, theft by unauthorized taking, aggravated driving under the influence, attempting to elude police, DUI impairment, disobeying a police officer, driving after suspension, criminal mischief, and resisting arrest, all after crashing his friend’s vehicle, stealing a truck, crashing again, and running from State Troopers. He finally was taken into custody after a State Police K-9 tracked him back to his home.
The incident began about 12:38 a.m. on March 27, when State Police Troop F was notified of a hit-and-run crash on Depot Street, near Coffin Lane, Rumney. Troopers learned that Vallaincourt, a passenger in his friend’s Jeep Liberty, had grabbed the steering wheel, causing the Jeep to crash into a snowbank. Vaillancourt stole a cable truck from a nearby business but crashed into the Jeep while his friend was still in the driver’s seat. Vaillancourt continued along Depot Street, ignoring a State Police cruiser’s lights and siren, until he stopped and fled from the vehicle. A K-9 arrived to track Vaillancourt, aided by the discovery of clothing he had discarded. The track led to Vaillancourt’s home on Monroe Drive, where he was arrested without incident.
Police learned of five bench warrants against Vaillancourt for contempt of court and a suspended driver’s license. He was arraigned in the 2nd Circuit Court, District Division, Plymouth, and was taken to the Grafton County Department of Corrections.
Discussion: Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the case and ask anyone with information to contact Trooper Vargas at 603-223-3750.
House Agrees To Expanded Gun Background Database
Twenty-five House Republicans joined Democrats in passing House Bill 1711 on a 204-149 vote. The bill, filed in response to a former State Hospital patient’s fatal shooting of security officer Bradley Haas last November, places the mental health records of those deemed to pose a threat of violence into the federal background database. Federal law prohibits individuals who have been involuntarily committed to a psychiatric facility from purchasing or possessing firearms.
Representative J.R. Hoell (R-Dunbarton) attempted to table the bill, citing concerns about unintended consequences of the change. Bill sponsor Terry Roy (R-Deerfield) countered, “Bradley Haas probably wishes he was here at six o’clock tonight.” Lawmakers rejected the motion to table, along with two floor amendments, before passing the bill.
Roy noted that, until now, he has testified against every gun safety bill that has come before him, but in co-sponsoring HB 1711 — which he named for Haas — with Representative David Meuse (D-Portsmouth), they carved out a provision to ensure that it would not apply to people voluntarily seeking behavioral health treatment or those involuntarily admitted by an emergency petition.
Discussion: The bill strikes a compromise that preserves Second Amendment rights, providing the opportunity to arrange for an individual other than law enforcement to take possession of confiscated weapons, and to petition a court for a review of the individual’s “mental capacity” to seek removal from the database, allowing the person to once again possess firearms.
Executive Council Addresses Homeless Needs
The Executive Council has made $8,500,000 available to local emergency shelters to help the homeless, including $755,300 for the Salvation Army, serving Belknap and Merrimack counties; $254,800 for the Friends Program, Inc., serving Merrimack County, and $236,600 for the Tri-County Community Action Program, Inc., serving Coös and Grafton counties.
Governor Chris Sununu said the money will help to ensure a coordinated statewide approach to tackling homelessness, “and that no individual across the Granite State goes without access to support”.
Health and Human Services Commissioner Lori Weaver said, “When people are faced with the possibility of homelessness, accessing an emergency shelter in their local community can be life-changing. These funds will give shelter providers the boost they need to support critical coordination with statewide housing programs as we work to ensure that every resident experiencing homelessness can access the right supports and housing assistance programs for them.”
Discussion: The money will help to address current needs, but communities need to address the shortage of affordable housing by amending their zoning regulations to remove NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard sentiments) that elevates the costs and limits the areas where building projects can occur. Government also should find a way to prevent investment firms from buying up housing inventory in order to exploit the shortage and drive up the cost of owning or renting.