DHS/Border Patrol checkpoints on highways in NH....update.

@xfahctor (14118)
Lancaster, New Hampshire
June 12, 2011 1:14pm CST
Some of you may remember my nearly 4 year long campaign to stop the practice of Department of Homeland Security check points on New Hampshire highways. For those of you who weren't in the loop, I am not talking about the checkpoints at Canadian border crossings. The check points I was referring to were in Lincoln, which is more than 75 miles from the border. These checkpoints are set up on the interstate and stop all south bound traffic and inquire on the citizenship of all occupants of the vehicles, sometimes pulling cars aside for more detailed screenings. Please understand I have no issue with border patrol doing it's job and protecting the border. But Lincoln is NOT the border. There is no need to be stopping U.S. citizens traveling with in their own states and demanding proof of citizenship with out justifiable cause. Not only does it ring of police state, it is a blatant violation of the 4th amendment. This is common practice in many areas of the U.S. More so on the southern border, but it does happen in the northern states as well. Well, thanks to me and an exhausting 4 year campaign, this may now become illegal in the state of New Hampshire. I just got word from a State representative and she has introduced my bill to the State legislature. I am waiting on a copy of the bill text and number and will link to it as soon as I have a working copy. This has been a long journey for something that should have been very cut and dry, but I feel vindicated and like I have made a huge leap of progress. I have written, talked to, hounded, stalked etc a good number of legislators, many who agreed with me but were a bit afraid of taking on the feds. Herb Richardson (the local rep i often brag about) was probably the one who responded most favorably, but he was not seated on a committee who's capacity it would have been with in. Governor Lynch's response was an expected " it's an issue for the federal government" type cop-out because the man lacks any semblance of a spine. So I went the federal rout and got hold of a few congressmen and senators. I talked with Judd Greg and Paul Hodes and they both parroted the whole "war on terror /9/11!" schtick......yeh, that went well didn't it. Thank you Laura Jones of the New Hampshire House though. Finally someone in a position to do something...did something. I got the facebook message from her this morning after telling her about this issue just days ago. It was in a conversation on an unrelated issue, but the issue came up in a round about way. So, from "hey, we got this problem, what can you do about this?"....to "Bill is filed" in the course of what I think may be 4 days at most. Now THAT is how business is taken care of. I LOVE this lady, she doesn't screw around.
20 people like this
7 responses
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
12 Jun 11
Kudos! But if it passes, how long do you think it will be before the Federal Government sues the State of New Hampshite? I didn' t know they were doing this on the interstate in NH although I knew that MA was having state troopers looking for MA cars coming out of NH whose drivers might have been shopping for tax-free goods. Freedom ain't what it used to be.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
13 Jun 11
I just noticed my typo on New Hampshire. Unintended, I assure you. I admire NH, it is a dream of mine to someday Live Free or Die.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
13 Jun 11
LMAO!!!! I didn't even notice until you pointed it out. That's brilliant!
15 people like this
@AmbiePam (85661)
• United States
12 Jun 11
Can we transfer that kind of dedication (or fanaticism) to the borders near Mexico?
@AmbiePam (85661)
• United States
13 Jun 11
I just meant there aren't enough agents in Arizona and other areas that line the Mexico border.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
13 Jun 11
It's already there Ambie.....they do this in most border states...and fanaticism is the word or more like, jackbooted. It shouldn't happen it doesn't protect the border. You cannot protect the border if you aren't at the border. I cannot see any justification whatsoever for arbitrarily stopping U.S. citizens who are traveling freely with in their own state and country at checkpoints and demanding citizenship.
17 people like this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
12 Jun 11
I thought that is what the lawmakers in Arizona were trying to do?
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
13 Jun 11
I agree that this would be better if it was located closer to the border. Why not let the local police check on those who break a law then check their citizenship. Let the border guards guard the border and not 75 miles in and set up a check point.
@EvanHunter (4026)
• United States
14 Jun 11
congrats xfahctor; you deserve a big pat on the back for being able to get your elected official to do anything positive. I have waged battles to no avail on some issues in my own state and have only gotten kicked around. I am hoping that it is exactly what you expected it to be and that there isn't some language stuffed into it that turns the whole thing into a waste of paper time and money. Keep us updated, I would like to see a copy myself and maybe forward it to my representatives as I have seen them do the same thing here where I live.
• United States
13 Jun 11
Stick with her X. If she is a lone wolf trying to get a bill passed she is going to need all the support you can drum up to put enough pressure on the rest of the cop outs to get them to vote for it. It surprises me no one who has been stopped and searched has not sued the feds for violating their 4th amendment. that is why it keep happening...the people are not standing up for themselves. They are sitting back and taking it. Good for you that are you are standing up for yours!!!!
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
12 Jun 11
Congratulations! The Republic is still alive and breathing. After a depressing morning reading so many eulogies -this is refreshing! Thank you.
@xfahctor (14118)
• Lancaster, New Hampshire
13 Jun 11
Yeh, it was the best news I had all week. Totally unexpected, it has never been that easy. Probably wont be again either but at least I know who my go-to gal is. I think I have until November to get all my legislation in so I'm probably going to milk this for all it's worth, lol. Next up, legislative resolution for an official call for a constitutional convention, if it hasn't already been introduced officially. I knew someone had talked about it months ago, Representative Itse I believe.
17 people like this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
13 Jun 11
That is great news X! Whenever our representatives are doing their jobs well, they should be commended. The unfortunate side to this is that it is so rare!. I am glad that you gave her name. We need to lift these people up as our expectation.