Lawmakers behind ‘nipple bill’ warn of societal decline

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Lawmakers backing a bill to criminalize women exposing their breasts in public said Monday they’re trying to shield families and children, especially those drawn to New Hampshire’s beaches — a big tourist draw.

“It’s a shame that some folks are more concerned with exposing their breasts in public places than they are concerned about how families and children may be impacted by being forced to experience this evolving societal behavior,” Republican Rep. Brian Gallagher told a legislative committee. “This is about a movement to change the values of New Hampshire society.”

Gallagher is a sponsor of legislation that would make it a misdemeanor for women to show their breasts or nipples in public with “reckless disregard” for whether it would offend someone. It’s partly a response to a “Free the Nipple” movement that led to two women being cited for going topless at a Gilford beach last year. The bill also caused an online spat among several state legislators that drew national attention after a male lawmaker said if women want to show their breasts in public they should be OK with men wanting to “grab” them.

A 2013 Ford truck was destroyed after rolling backwards off a substantial cliff near Pavillion on Sunday afternoon. After climbing a large butte, the vehicle's occupants had exited the truck to photograph deer when the truck began rolling away and eventually off a steep cliff, landing on the roof. No persons were in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
 
At 2:08 p.m. on Friday, a caller on Lincoln Street reported that someone came to the caller's grandmother's home and started "yelling about stuff." The subject left before officers arrived.
 
Robert Sweeney, 62 and Roxanne Sweeney, 51, both of Riverton. Both were arrested for Driving While Under the Influence. According to a police Report, Robert was driving into the drive-thru lane at Woodward's Liquor when he bumped another vehicle, no damage. So Roxanne took over driving. When stopped just down the block, both were found to be intoxicated and both were arrested as an officer witnessed both drivers behind the wheel.
 
At 9:09 a.m. in the 400 block of East Pershing, a caller complained that they were being chased "by two very aggressive chickens."
 
A man in the 1600 block of East Lincoln reported that someone had thrown the carcass of a dead dog into the bed of his son's pickup.
 
A report of several people breaking into the Arby's Restaurant on West Main at 10:15 p.m. was unfounded. The people were store employees.

A 2013 Ford truck was destroyed after rolling backwards off a substantial cliff near Pavillion on Sunday afternoon. After climbing a large butte, the vehicle's occupants had exited the truck to photograph deer when the truck began rolling away and eventually off a steep cliff, landing on the roof. No persons were in the vehicle at the time of the incident.