STATEMENT FROM HAWAII FIREARMS COALITION, April 21, 2024

On Wednesday, the Honolulu City Council passed its resolution authorizing corporation council to file a lawsuit against Glock.

The resolution stated that Glock handguns are dangerous due to the illegal modification of their handguns.

Hawaii Firearms Coalition gave testimony on the bill informing the city that there is currently a lawsuit challenging the state law that they intended to use for the legal basis of their lawsuit -- and that their lawsuit was prohibited by federal law.

On Friday (two days later) Honolulu Mayor Blangiardi released a statement that the city will not be filling this lawsuit until the above mentioned lawsuit is completed.

  *   *   *   *   *

Mayor Blangiardi's statement directing Corporation Counsel to not proceed with lawsuit

News Release from City and County of Honolulu, April 19, 2024

HONOLULU – Mayor Rick Blangiardi issued the following statement on Friday directing Corporation Counsel not to proceed with a lawsuit against gunmaker Glock:    

“The City Council recently authorized the Department of the Corporation Counsel to initiate litigation against a firearms industry member under the Firearm Industry Responsibility Act. I have instructed the Department of the Corporation Counsel to not move forward with this litigation unless and until a court rules the statute to be constitutional. We are aware that there is currently a federal lawsuit pending about this very issue. The City is not moving ahead unless a court rules the statute to be constitutional.” 

SN: Council approves legal action against gun manufacturer

  *   *   *   *   *

HONOLULU SHOWS HOW ANTI-GUN IT IS.... again

This time they want to sue @GLOCKInc because people illegally use Glock switches.

from HiFiCo, April 13, 2024

Council member Tyler Dos Santos-Tam introduced Resolution 24-100, which, in his words is "To authorize the Department of the Corporation Counsel to initiate legal action against a firearm industry member and to retain attorneys as special deputies Corporation Counsel."

Here is a synopsis of the of the resolution

Background and Legal Basis:

The bill references Hawaii's state law under Act 28, codified as Hawai’i Revised Statutes (HRS) § 134-101 et seq., which establishes state-level standards of conduct for firearm industry members. These standards include establishing reasonable controls to prevent the distribution of abnormally dangerous weapons and ensuring compliance with all relevant federal and state laws.

Specific Allegations Against Glock:

It is claimed that Glock handguns can be easily modified with a "Glock switch," converting them into fully automatic weapons, which is illegal under both federal and state laws. The bill cites several federal prosecutions involving such modifications within Honolulu, underscoring the public safety risk they represent.

Purpose of the Legal Action:

The proposed legal action aims to hold Glock accountable for failing to prevent the modification of their handguns into fully automatic weapons. The goal is to enforce existing gun control laws and prevent the manufacture, sale, and distribution of what the bill terms "abnormally dangerous weapons."

Role of Special Deputies Corporation Counsel:

Due to the complex nature of firearm-related litigation, the bill proposes hiring specialized legal experts from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Dentons law firm. These firms are to serve as special deputies corporation counsel, meaning they would represent the City and County of Honolulu in the legal proceedings.

Scope of Legal Action:

The legal action seeks various forms of relief, including injunctive relief to prevent further legal violations, damages for harms caused, and recovery of attorneys’ fees and costs. The action would be brought on behalf of the people of Hawaii, highlighting the public interest and welfare aspect of the lawsuit.

Authorization and Implementation:

The Honolulu City Council would need to consent to the Corporation Counsel's request to initiate this legal action. Upon approval, the special deputies would be responsible for managing the case, including the retention of consultants and expert witnesses as necessary.

There is a hearing scheduled for this resolution on April 17th and for those wishing to submit testimony can soon at the city website.

---30---

Res 24-100: Text, Status