Hawaii: House Judiciary Committee to Hear Anti-Gun Bills

News Release from NRA-ILA, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2023

Last week, the Hawaii Legislature considered several anti-gun bills, and three more anti-gun bills are already scheduled to be heard tomorrow, starting at 2PM, by the House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs Committee. Please consider submitting testimony AGAINST HB 426, HB 804 and HB 984 through the Hawaii Legislative website. For help creating an account and submitting testimony, click here.

House Bill 426 aims to undermine the PLCAA and subject licensed firearm manufacturers and sellers to frivolous lawsuits brought to recover damages for the criminal misuse of their products in order to bankrupt them. It contains vague language regarding what is considered unacceptable conduct of business subject to these lawsuits.

House Bill 804 requires state authorities to notify the FBI’s center that maintains a secret government watchlist about all prospective firearm permit applicants. Individuals placed on this secret list, commonly known as the “terror watchlist,” do not receive notice nor does placement necessarily corelate between criminal convictions or accusations. For more information on the “Terrorist Watchlist” click here.

House Bill 984 greatly restricts the right-to-carry in Hawaii. It massively expands “gun-free zones” where law-abiding citizens are left defenseless and also prohibits carrying firearms on private property unless the owner gives affirmative permission. Citizens who carry firearms are required to maintain insurance coverage of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per incident and carry proof of insurance. It also creates new subjective criteria for the issuance of carry permits to allow authorities to arbitrarily deny applicants.

Last week, the Senate Public Safety Committee heard and passed Senate Bill 1230, which is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Additionally, a joint committee hearing was held between the Senate Public Safety and Commerce and Consumer Protection Committees on Senate Bill 33 and Senate Bill 882: both bills were deferred.

Senate Bill 1230 massively expands “gun-free zones” where law-abiding citizens are left defenseless and also prohibits carrying firearms on private property unless the owner gives affirmative permission. In addition, it creates new subjective criteria for the issuance of carry permits to allow authorities to arbitrarily deny applicants. The Senate Public Safety Committee passed SB 1230, which is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Senate Bill 33 prohibits anyone from selling ammunition or shell casings, unless the purchaser proves that they are the registered owner of a firearm for those items or if the purchaser is a designated “alternate” individual by the registered owner. Gun owners may only designate one alternate person on a registration. The joint committee deferred SB 33.

Senate Bill 882 makes carry permits more expensive and difficult to obtain by increasing the training mandate time requirement from four hours to 14 hours, creating a written test, and requiring in-person interviews. In addition, it also creates new subjective criteria to allow authorities to arbitrarily deny applicants. The joint committee deferred SB 882.