John Stephen Commends Supreme Court For Upholding Gun Owners' Rights

For Immediate Release                                        Greg MooreJune 26, 2008                                     (603) 206-1223 x1013
John Stephen Commends Supreme Court For Upholding Gun Owners' Rights Decision Today Affirms Americans' Right To Own And Bear Arms, Eliminates DC Gun Ban
MANCHESTER, NH- 1st District Congressional Candidate John Stephen commended today's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the District of Columbia ban on handguns and severe restrictions on rifles and shotguns.  The case, District of Columbia v. Heller, affirms that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to own and bear firearms, and does not apply merely to militias."This is an outstanding ruling by the Supreme Court to protect the rights of gun owners as a fundamental Constitutional matter," said Stephen.  "New Hampshire has always supported personal freedom, and that freedom includes the Second Amendment right to own and bear firearms.  While I am thrilled with the court's ruling, the real tragedy is that the citizens of the District of Columbia have been deprived of their Constitutional rights since 1976.  For 32 years, the residents of Washington have had their freedoms taken from them."Stephen noted that every member of the New Hampshire delegation signed onto an amicus (friend of the court) brief to support overturning the law except Rep. Carol Shea-Porter.  In all, a bipartisan coalition of 250 members of the House and 55 Senators signed on to the brief, a majority of both houses of Congress."Congresswoman Shea-Porter's refusal to sign the brief supporting gun owners is one more example of why we need change in Washington," noted Stephen.  "Protecting gun owners' rights is critical, but manufacturing firearms and accessories is a huge component of our economy.  Across New Hampshire, there are over 2,000 high-paying jobs in the firearms industry.  Just in the 1st District, there is Sig Sauer in Exeter, Insight Technology in Londonderry, Heckler & Koch (Wilcox) in Portsmouth and Thompson/Center Arms in Rep. Shea-Porter's hometown of Rochester.  Supporting the Second Amendment is also about keeping jobs right here in the Granite State.  Rep. Shea-Porter's refusal to see that is why we need new leadership in Congress now."
John Stephen is the former Commissioner of Health and Human Services.  Prior to that position, he served as the Assistant Commissioner of Safety, where he also worked as the state's first Homeland Security Coordinator.  Stephen also served as a prosecutor for 10 years, in Hillsborough County and as an Assistant Attorney General.  He is a Manchester resident.