Hawaii: More Anti-Gun Legislation Scheduled for Hearings This Wednesday!

News Release from NRA-ILA, February 12, 2019

On Wednesday, February 13th, the Hawaii state House Committee on Public Safety, Veteran and Military Affairs will be hearing several anti-gun bills.  Please contact Committee Members today and urge their opposition to House Bills 720, 1486 and 1543.  Please consider submitting testimony through the Hawaii Legislative website and by clicking on the “Take Action” button below to email members directly.  For help creating an account and submitting testimony, click here.

House Bill 720, introduced by Representative Chris Lee (D-51), would set a one-size-fits-all requirement for gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours, further victimizing gun owners who have suffered a loss or theft of their property.  

House Bill 1486, introduced by Rep. Lee, would shorten the duration of carry permits in Hawaii from one year to six months, requiring training to be completed before each renewal or prior to issuance, as well as require the person to carry an electric stun device in addition to their firearm.  This legislation appears to be nothing more than an attempt to discourage persons seeking a carry permit in Hawaii by putting unrealistic barriers for compliance.

House Bill 1543 introduced by Rep. Lee, would create Gun Violence Protective Orders (GVPO).  A GVPO would be issued not because a person has been convicted of a crime or adjudicated mentally ill, but instead on third party allegations.  This legislation lacks strong due process protections, contains low evidentiary standards, and falls well below the norm for removing constitutional rights.  

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE House Bills 720, 1486 and 1543.

Last week the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs heard four anti-gun bills.  The Committee deferred SB 556 and passed SB 600, SB 621, and SB 1466.

Senate Bill 556, introduced by Senator Karl Rhoads (D-13), would require notification to the Terrorist Screening Center of the FBI before a determination can be made to issue or deny a firearm permit.  This legislation is unnecessary, as notification is already provided when utilizing the National Instant Check System (NICS), which Hawaii utilizes as part of the background check inquiry.  Any determination based solely on inclusion on this list would violate a person’s right to due process.  The NRA does not want terrorists or dangerous people to have firearms; however, the NRA is opposed to a secret government list, which a large number of Americans mistakenly end up on every year, being used to deny individuals their fundamental, constitutional rights.  SB 556 was deferred by the Committee.

Senate Bill 600, introduced by Senator Clarence Nishihara (D-17), would raise the minimum age to transport a firearm into the state to the age of 21.  By raising the age for firearm importation, persons who have lawfully acquired firearms outside of Hawaii who are traveling to the state for purposes of hunting, target competition, or even relocating would be discriminated against based on their age and denied their constitutional rights.  SB 600 was passed by the Committee.

Senate Bill 621, introduced by Senator Nishihara, would set a one-size-fits-all requirement for gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours, further victimizing gun owners who have suffered a loss or theft of their property.  SB 621 was passed by the Committee with amendments.

Senate Bill 1466, introduced by Senator Rhoads, would create Gun Violence Protective Orders (GVPO).  A GVPO would be issued not because a person has been convicted of a crime or adjudicated mentally ill, but instead on third party allegations.  This legislation lacks strong due process protections, contain low evidentiary standards, and falls well below the norm for removing fundamental, constitutional rights.  SB 1466 was passed by the Committee with amendments.