HRA Alert: Seizure bill Thursday

News Release from Hawaii Rifle Association, March 15, 2016

The Senate Public Safety Committee, Chairman Senator Clarence K. Nishihara, will HB2632 March 17, 2016. 

Please click on the bill number above for bill information and to send testimony.  HRA OPPOSES.

Deadline to submit testimony, 1:45pm Wednesday March 16. 

Requires the county police to seize all firearms from any person who is a danger to self or others due to mental health reasons and requires emergency hospitalization.  Good idea!  But where's the due process? 

The bill language in the present draft is unclear as to whether a judge's order is required to seize guns.  HPD thinks they won't need one.

HRA remains STRONGLY OPPOSED unless the bill is amended to specify that a court order must be obtained for the hospitalization before firearms can be seized, as required under the 2nd and 4th Amendments and Hawaii State law: capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol06_Ch0321-0344/HRS0334/HRS_0334-0061.htm  

MAHALO,

HARVEY GERWIG, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON and PRESIDENT, HRA

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The Senate Public Safety Committee, Chairman Senator Clarence K. Nishihara, will hear 3 gun bills Tuesday, March 15, 2016. 

News Release from Hawaii Rifle Association March 12, 2016

Please go to capitol.hawaii.gov , sign in, and click on the orange "submit testimony" button to send testimony on all three bills.

Deadline to submit testimony, 1:20pm Monday March 14.

HB625  Includes misdemeanor stalking among the offenses that disqualify a person from owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition. 4th degree stalking can be as little as sending unwanted texts or e-mails, and conviction means permanent loss of gun rights, restorable only by Governor's pardon.  OPPOSE.  Support if 4th degree stalking removed.

HB626 Petty misdemeanor for drinking alcohol outside your home while possessing a firearm.  Former Mayor Carlisle's "Deedy" bill.  Targets police, as no one else can lawfully carry.  OPPOSE.  Off duty police carrying is a public safety benefit.  The courts may eventually force Hawaii police chiefs to issue carry permits to civilians.  Needs an amendment specifying .08 alcohol level.

HB2629 Requires the county police to enroll all gun permit applicants and those registering firearms in "Rap Back," a FBI data base of individuals arrested anywhere in the US, including on misdemeanor and even some civil charges.  A fee of approximately $50 will be charged.  The system is used now to screen job applicants for sensitive jobs, like foster parents, etc.  No state currently uses it for firearms acquisitions.  HRA OPPOSES.  It creates a permanent federal list of firearms owners and charges a fee for exercising a civil right.

MAHALO,HARVEY GERWIG, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON and PRESIDENT, HRA

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Hawaii: Anti-Gun Bills Pass House Floor Vote

News Release from NRA-ILA, Thursday, March 10, 2016

Yesterday, three anti-gun bills passed their floor votes in the Hawaii House of Representatives.  These bills will now head to the Senate for further consideration.

House Bill 2502 would ban the import, sale, purchase, barter, and possession with intent to sell of any ivory (defined to include mammoth ivory), ivory product, rhinoceros horn, rhinoceros horn product and products from various other animal species.  While the NRA applauds serious efforts to stop poaching and the illegal wildlife trade, banning the trade and sale of legally owned, pre-ban ivory will not save one elephant.  To read more about ivory ban legislation, please refer to NRA-ILA’s Ivory Ban Fact Sheet.

House Bill 2632 would expand the list of possible prohibited possessors to include anyone who has undergone or is undergoing emergency hospitalization.  This expansion for emergency hospitalization is vague and could entrap a person who has suffered something as common as diabetic shock to suddenly lose their Second Amendment rights, without due process of the law, simply for receiving care.  Additionally under this bill, individuals are required to surrender firearms immediately, or else law enforcement may seize firearms, all without due process.

House Bill 1813 would prohibit any individual whose name is added to the deeply flawed and inaccurate “Terrorist Watch list,” from owning or possessing firearms. This secret government list would strip law-abiding individuals of their constitutional rights without due process. 

Additionally, two pro-gun bills are on the move in Honolulu as well.

House Bill 2528 would appropriate funds for public outreach and planning for a Hawaii island public shooting facility.  HB 2528 passed the House of Representatives and has been assigned to the Senate Committees on Energy & Environmental Protection, Government Operations, and Ways and Means.

Senate Bill 2026 would establish the Hawaii apprentice hunting license program.  Lengthy hunter education requirements often discourage potential hunters from going afield because they are unwilling to dedicate the necessary time to complete the course in order to pursue an activity that they are simply trying out.  The apprentice license program allows them to experience hunting while under the supervision of a mentor before taking the course.  Eventually, the goal is for these apprentices to complete a hunter education course so they can hunt on their own, which has largely been the case in the states with similar programs.  Since 2006, nearly 1.5 million apprentice hunting licenses have been sold in participating states and have proven the value and safety of mentoring newcomers in the field.  SB 2026 passed the Senate and is currently awaiting to be assigned to a House committee for further consideration.

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From Hawaii Rifle Association, March 7, 2016

Tomorrow, Tuesday, March 8, 2016 five anti-gun bills are coming up for a  FLOOR VOTE in the House of Representatives.  Contact your representative by email and/or phone by 8:00 AM tomorrow morning and ask them to vote NO on all of the following bills if your Representative is NOT on this list of our  Second Amendment supporters.

DON'T CALL THIS LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES,  CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE IF NOT ON THIS LIST: Go to the Legislature's Website at http://capitol.hawaii.gov/

In the upper right hand corner fill in your street to find your House Representative and follow the prompts.

• Rep. Ken Ito
• Isaac Choy
• James Tokioka
• Bob McDermott
• Henry Aquino
• Ty Cullen
• Ryan Yamane
• Jo Jordan
• Sharon Har
• Lynn DeCoite
• Calvan Say
• Marcus Oshiro
• Derek Kawakami

Please ask your Representative to VOTE NO on this list of bills:

• HB 625:   Misdemeanor stalking:  You would loose your gun rights forever for unwanted emails or texts.
• HB 626:   Drinking in possession of a firearm outside your home, does not specify intoxication.
• HB 1813:  No Fly Terrorist List:  Loose your guns if you are on a secret list, with no knowledge of what put you on the list and virtually no way to get off.
• HB 2629:  Rap Back:  Places a new applicants for firearms permits into a national criminal database to continually monitor your criminal background in other States, and will charge you a fee of up to $50 for your application. Hits will generate an HPD investigation, which upon conviction may deny your Second Amendment rights.
• HB 2632:  Seizure of guns for involuntary hospitalization.  This would allow an HPD field officer, a telephone call to a Police Psychologist, and an emergency room doctor to cause your guns to be seized immediately without Due Process or any Court Order.

MAHALO,
HARVEY GERWIG, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON and PRESIDENT, HRA