New Hampshire Republican Doesn’t Understand The Role of Government

The New Hampshire Union Leader editorial today explained New Hampshire Senate Bill 365, which would require the following: “No animal shelter facility licensed in accordance with this chapter shall sell, give away, adopt, or otherwise transfer ownership of any dog or cat that has not been permanently sexually sterilized.”

There are many economically-based reasons to be against this bill, and the editorial handles them nicely. It even touches on a sentimental note at one point. However, even beyond those reasons, one has to ask the following two basic questions: does the bill’s sponsor, one State Senator Sheila Roberge, R-Bedford, understand the role of government? Furthermore, why is she sponsoring this bill?

Regarding the first question, there may be some disagreement even among conservatives. I think, however, that even a liberal would agree that the role of government does not include “sexually sterilizing,” by requirement, every cat or dog that leaves a shelter. To what purpose is it being done? Does it help increase public health, or public security? Will it improve public safety, or help the environment because fewer animals are eating food that is made and canned by machines? Roberge’s bill is ridiculous on this level, which is really the only level necessary to look at.

For the sake of expanding the size of this post, I’ll keep going- and ask again, why is Roberge sponsoring this bill? Is she being bought by the animal shelter lobbying in New Hampshire? Or perhaps she would like to be remembered for passing a bill, no matter how inconsequential and in violation of basic first principles of government? After all, she only targets cats and dogs. Why not target fish, or gerbils, or any other animal?

I suspect Roberge has had a bad experience in adopting an animal from a shelter, and wants to protect the people from something happening to them. That seems to be the case in the bills I’ve seen that are as petty, and stupid, as this one. Let’s hope the rest of the New Hampshire legislative branch laughs her bill into the trash.