HRA Alert: 4 votes short of killing HB888!

by Dr. Maxwell Cooper, HRA Legislative Liaison May 5, 2015 1:56PM

Your supportive State Representatives have 22 of the 26 votes needed to kill HB888!  House Leaders still support it but have pushed it to the back of their agenda.  There is still time before end of session this Thursday, May 9, to kill it or get it re-referred for new hearings next year.  

If you haven't called your Rep. already, do so ASAP.  Some Reps. haven't heard from their constituents on this issue yet.  Ask their position and ask them to kill it or get it re-referred.

CLICK ON the bill number above for the bill history and wording.  Click on "Find Your Legislator" in the upper left corner of the page for their contact information.

HB888, CD1, the "Deedy" bill, would create a petty misdemeanor for recklessly possessing a loaded firearm when intoxicated, including in your own home.

F-rated House Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads got the Senate to agree to his language, deleting "in public", and "discharge" from the Senate version, after 3 conference committees at which no public testimony is taken.

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UPDATE: May 5, 2015 4:43PM -- HRA Alert! HB888 Recommitted!

The bill was recommitted unanimously on the House floor.  It's dead for this year, and is returned to committee. 

Be sure to take time to thank House Speaker Joe Souki and all the Legislators you contacted for their support.

Mahalo,

Dr. Maxwell Cooper,

HRA Legislative Liaison

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Hawaii: Dangerous Legislation Could be Voted on Tomorrow

From NRA-ILA, May 04, 2015

As early as tomorrow, House Bill 888 could be voted on by the Hawaii House of Representatives and Senate.  HB 888, which is aimed at those who recklessly possess a firearm while intoxicated, has morphed throughout the session. Most recently there was a disagreement between versions of the bill in the respective chambers and the bill was sent to conference committee. The result of this committee is a bill that has dangerous implications for law-abiding gun owners that is likely well beyond the prescribed intent.

The problem lies in the broad definition of “possession” which could possibly extend to a firearm that isn’t actually in one’s possession but nearby or accessible in one’s home.  For example, an individual who has come home from having a few drinks with friends and goes to bed next to a nightstand containing a loaded self-defense gun, could be charged with a crime. This could also include those using narcotics while recovering from surgery.  Further, acting under personal bias, an anti-gun prosecutor or judge could consider the charge a “violent” misdemeanor thereby removing someone’s Second Amendment rights unfairly.

It is important that you contact your legislators and strongly urge them to oppose House Bill 888 when it comes up for a vote or re-commit the bill to committee for further study and consideration. 

Contact information for your legislators can be found here.

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HRA Alert: Bad gun bill passing!

by Dr. Maxwell Cooper, HRA Legislative Liaison, May 2, 2015

HB888, creating a petty misdemeanor for recklessly possessing a loaded firearm when intoxicated, including in your own home, is passing.

If you come home from a party after drinking, or you are on narcotics recovering from surgery, and go to bed with your loaded self defense gun in a bedside drawer or lockbox, you could be charged.  If you are having a beer and cleaning your gun in your carport after a range session and then reloading it because it's your self defense gun, anyone who saw you could initiate a police investigation.

An anti-gun Prosecutor or Judge could consider the charge a "violent" misdemeanor and if convicted, you would lose all your guns and your gun rights.

F-rated House Judiciary Chair Karl Rhoads got the Senate to agree to his language, deleting "in public", and "discharge" from the Senate version, after 3 conference committees at which no public testimony is taken.

The bill will come up for a final vote in the House and Senate early next week. 

E-MAIL OR FAX YOUR REPRESENTATIVE AND SENATOR NOW, ASKING THEM TO VOTE "NO" ON HB888! 

ASK THEM TO TELL THE HOUSE SPEAKER, JOE SOUKI, AND THE SENATE PRESIDENT, DONNA KIM, TO "RE-COMMIT" THE BILL TO COMMITTEE SO PUBLIC TESTIMONY WILL BE HEARD ON THE BILL NEXT YEAR.

YOUR LEGISLATORS GET HUNDREDS OF E-MAILS, SO PHONE DURING BUSINESS HOURS TO FOLLOW UP.  ASK TO SPEAK TO YOUR LEGISLATOR.

GO TO www.capitol.hawaii.gov AND CLICK ON "Find Your Legislator" in the upper left corner of the home page for their contact information.

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HB888: Text, Status