Legislative Agenda: HPD Wants 5-Round Magazine Limit

From HIFICO January 3, 2020

Today (01/03/2020) Hawaii Firearms Coalition members met with State Representative Gregg Takayama to discuss the upcoming legislative session. Representative Gregg Takayama is the chairperson for the Public Safety, Veterans, & Military Affairs (PSM) Committee, which often hears firearms-related bills.

What they found out is that a magazine ban is coming and we need to stop it now.

Late last month, we heard from Honolulu Police Department Chief Susan Ballard that she was going to ask for a reduced magazine capacity law, and we found out today that the person she has asked to sponsor the bill is Representative Gregg Takayama.

Whilst it was unclear what the actual number will be, Representative Gregg Takayama gave the impression that the starting point would be five rounds. This would not only significantly reduce the number of rounds in rifles, but would also reduce the number of rounds allowed in pistols by 50%.

The common misconception is that reducing the number of rounds allowed in magazines will reduce the number of deaths in mass shootings, but as we have seen in many of the mass shootings in states like California, who already ban them, bad guys ignore the law and obtain them illegally anyway. Magazine bans only serve to benefit criminals. No one wants to reload when they are fighting for their lives. With home invasions becoming more common, and with multiple attackers becoming the norm, every bullet available counts.

Magazine capacity limits are currently being challenged all over the country, with cases before the 9th circuit and appeals filed before the supreme court. Why Hawaii keeps trying to pass laws before these cases are decided is beyond us. Does it make sense for legislators to pass a law knowing that the state is going to have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars defending it in court? Maybe it's hard for them to care when it's taxpayers' money and not theirs.

Hawaii residents that care about their constitutional right to keep and bear arms should give Representative Gregg Takayama a call and let him know that just because the Honolulu Police Department has an idea to submit a bill, it doesn't mean he has to do it.

Rep. Gregg Takayama can be reached at his office: 808-586-6340

He can be e-mailed: reptakayama@Capitol.hawaii.gov

OR you can use our webform at www.hifico.org/mag

When writing legislators, please remember to be factual, accurate, and polite. No one responds well to name-calling from belligerent people.

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