Jason Bradt

Dear Members of the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee, I am writing to express my deep concern and strong opposition to House Bill 159 (HB159), which appears to be a reintroduction of last year’s HB1711. As a U.S. Air Force Veteran and a physician, I have dedicated my life to protecting both the constitutional rights and the well-being of my fellow citizens. This bill threatens both. HB159 represents a dangerous infringement on our Second Amendment rights by allowing the confiscation of firearms based on mental health proceedings without proper due process. The lack of adequate safeguards in this legislation not only violates fundamental constitutional protections but also risks discouraging individuals from seeking necessary mental health care out of fear that they may lose their rights. As a physician the practiced Emergency Medicine and Flight Surgery, I know firsthand how critical mental health care is, and I strongly believe that we should be encouraging treatment rather than stigmatizing those who seek help. This bill creates an unjust and harmful association between mental health conditions and dangerous behavior, which is not supported by evidence. Emotionally expedient legislation to appeal to the anti-firearm constituents is no proxy for loyalty to freedoms protected by the U.S. Constitution’s Bill of Rights. The vast majority of individuals with mental health concerns are not violent, and policies like this only serve to deepen the stigma surrounding mental health treatment and put those at risk who may need firearms for self-defense during a difficult period of their life. Furthermore, due process is a cornerstone of our justice system. Stripping individuals of their constitutional rights without clear, stringent legal protections sets a dangerous precedent that could be expanded in unpredictable and unjust ways. I thought the governments of New England learned from the wrongs of admitting hearsay and spectral evidence as a basis for stripping citizens of their rights. This is not just a gun rights issue—it is a civil liberties issue. For these reasons, I urge you to vote NO on HB159. New Hampshire citizens deserve policies that both respect their rights and genuinely support mental health care, not legislation that does more harm than good. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. Jason Bradt, MD, MBA, MHA U.S. Air Force Veteran, Physician, and Freedom Loving New Hampshirite