From Hawaii Republican Assembly
The proposed world class Puuanahulu Shooting Range in Kailua-Kona is still in the state budget. The House and Senate start conference committees this week to decide the final budget. There is wide support for the range. It's timely to remind the Legislators on the money committees that such a facility is important to a lot of shooters, hunters, and 2nd Amendment supporters across the state.
The $3.25 million proposal involves general-purpose rifle, pistol, 3-D bow hunting and archery ranges and a sporting clays course initially, and then a 1,000-yard rifle, 100-yard airgun, action pistol, pistol, rifle, trap and skeet ranges, an education center, rest rooms, picnic areas and parking. The site, a square mile of land within the Pu'uanahulu Game Management area, immune from encroachment, is near the Kona hotels.
Please send this kind of message below to the Senate Ways and Means and House Finance Committee Leaders and Members in support of this range. Contact these state legislators at their office e-mails:
Courtesy of the Hawaii Rifle Association's Legislative Liaison, Dr. Max Cooper, here is a draft message to legislators which you can use to expedite communicating with the elected officials on this issue . . .
Subject: Pu'uananhulu Range
Hon. Senators on Senate Ways and Means and Representatives on House Finance, Please support this line item in the budget:
3. D01G PUUANAHULU SHOOTING RANGE FACILITY, HAWAII. PLANS, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR THE PUUANAHULU SHOOTING RANGE FACILITY. THIS PROJECT IS DEEMED NECESSARY TO QUALIFY FOR FEDERAL AID FINANCING AND/OR REIMBURSING.
FY13
FY14
PLANS
100
DESIGN
150
CONSTRUCTION
2,750
10,000
TOTAL FUNDING
LNR
750 C
2,500 C
The March 2013 Hawaii Attorney General's report shows that gun ownership in our Islands has surged over the last 12 years. Range development is non-existent during that same period. There are presently no public rifle and pistol ranges on our largest Island. The number of permits processed in Hawaii County alone climbed by 339% during that period, registrations 349%, and imported firearms 425%.
The proposed range complex for Kailua-Kona can draw large national mainland shooting groups for rifle, pistol, trap, skeet, sporting clays, cowboy action, and handgun competitions during the winter months when their ranges on the mainland are covered with snow and ice. There is no range in the State that can accommodate this level of shooting sports.
Thank you for your consideration on this budget item.
HIRA asks for your help in OPPOSING Anti-2nd Amendment Senate Bill 69 in any form. Hawaii's Democrats are doing everything they can to advance Obama's 'anti-gun' agenda right here in Hawaii, which will make it harder for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves while doing nothing to actually stop crime.
The Hawaii Rifle Association, NRA's Hawaii chapter, has sent out the following warning about a TERRIBLE BILL. Last Thursday, House amendments to Senate Bill 69 were rejected by the state Senate. SB 69, introduced by state Senators Will Espero (D-19), Rosalyn Baker (D-6), Brickwood Galuteria (D-12) and Josh Green (D-3), SB 69 was originally a gun "buyback" bill, but was changed in the State House into a mandatory background check bill on already acquired firearms.
Since the Senate did not accept its House amendments, SB 69 now goes to a conference committee for further negotiation.
It is important that you contact your state legislators, as well as the conference committee members (listed below) and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 69 in any form.
ON A RELATED NOTE: Yesterday, despite the heightened state of mindless political correctness in Washington D.C., a majority in the U.S. Senate saw fit to vote NAY on useless background checks which would have done absolutely NOTHING about the already illegal underground marketplace of illegal gun sales. Furthermore, the Obama/Democrat proposal would have done absolutely NOTHING about the circumstances of how the infamous mass shooters of late acquired their weapons. Even the mainstream media has had a hard time towing the liberal line for "background checks" when there is no valuable correlation between the proposed gun control laws and the gun crimes dominating news coverage in recent months. If a majority of D.C. politicians and the mainstream media are able to understand the futility of more laws, then how can it be so hard for State Senator Willie Espero and Hawaii's other anti-gun Democrat legislators to understand the folly of endless regulations that only affect the law-abiding among us?!? HIRA urges readers to use your influence immediately, before it's too late.
Contact information for your state legislators can be found HERE.
MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE ARE BELOW::