'Kyle, if you are trying to compare racist laws to public safety, you have gone off the deep end'
A Facebook image shared by state House Rep. Jordan Ulery (R-Hudson) led to an online argument in which House Republican Whip Shawn Jasper (R-Hudson) accused Rep. Kyle Tasker (R-Nottingham) of promoting “lawlessness” and violating his oath of office.
The photo, which originally accompanied a news story published in the Prairie View Post, pictured a group of bicyclists stopped by police. The caption read, “Cops pull over and ticket 26 bicyclists at once for running a stop sign. Share if you agree with the cops.”
“26 people vs 1…sheeple,” wrote Tasker. “26 people refusing to stop for 1 officer is my version of jury nullification,” he added.
Jasper fired back. “Kyle, if you believe that 26 people who have violated the law and a lawful order to stop have the right to keep going, then you clearly should not be in the legislature, as what you are promoting violates the oath you took,” he wrote. “You have the right to try to change the law, but it is wrong to promote lawlessness.”
Tasker responded by quoting from the Constitution. “See Article 10, of the constitution we swore to uphold: ‘The doctrine of nonresistance against arbitrary power, and oppression, is absurd, slavish, and destructive of the good and happiness of mankind.’ Civil disobedience is a proud tradition,” he added.
“Seriously Kyle?” asked Jasper. “The New Hampshire Legislature is the most representative body in the World. Arbitrary power? Oppression? Stop signs exist as a matter of public safety and are generally only put in where there is a need,” he explained. “When you break the law and are caught, if you disobey a police officer it is not civil disobedience.”
“Civil disobedience does not preclude you from punishment,” answered Tasker. “I’m not certain you are familiar with the finer points of civil disobedience. Rosa Parks was arrested for not going to the back of the bus,” he added.
Kyle,“ wrote Jasper, "if you are trying to compare racist laws to public safety, you have gone off the deep end.”