Hawaii: Important NRA Instructor Liability Bill Awaits Governor’s Approval
Hawaii Legislative Session Adjourns on High Note
News Release from NRA-ILA
With the Hawaii Legislature formally adjourning on May 4, one pro-gun bill passed before this deadline, House Bill 679. Introduced by state Representative Ken Ito (D-48) and six other state Representatives, HB 679 would exempt NRA instructors from absolute liability for injury or damage caused by their firearms during the course of providing firearms training at a firing range for the purpose of acquiring a permit to purchase a firearm.
This measure was reported out of conference committee on May 1 and was concurred with by both chambers on May 2. We thank all NRA members in Hawaii who contacted their legislators in support of this bill, as well as the Hawaii Rifle Association (the major sponsor of HB 679) for all of their hard work.
Governor Neil Abercrombie has until June 25 to compile his “intent to veto” list of bills. All bills that are not on that list will become law with or without his signature by July 10. Please contact Governor Abercrombie today and respectfully urge him to sign HB 679 into law. You can reach the Governor by calling (808) 586-0034 and by using this online form.
We are also pleased to report that the most onerous measures of 2011 and 2012 – House Bill 441, House Bill 834, House Bill 2028 and Senate Bill 2975 – all died upon adjournment of this legislative session.
HB 441, by Representative Blake Oshiro (D-33), would have mandated firearms be sold with safety devices; imposed ammunition registration; created firearms and ammunition storage regulations for dealers; prohibited disclosure of the source of information used to deny a firearm permit to purchase based on the applicant’s mental disorder; required the theft of a firearm be reported within 24 hours of the occurrence; and prohibited import, sale and transfer of .50 BMGs or cartridges.
HB 834, by Representative Karl Rhodes (D-28), would have put stifling regulations on the sale of ammunition.
HB 2028, by Representative Gilbert Keith-Agaran (D-9), would have established a legal mechanism by which an employer or employee could have sought a temporary restraining order, or preliminary or permanent injunctive relief on their own behalf or on the behalf of others, to prohibit workplace violence or the threat of workplace violence. Any temporary restraining would order that the respondent immediately and affirmatively surrender all firearms, ammunition, or ammunition loading, packing, or manufacturing devices in the respondent’s possession. This measure would have also allowed for the searching of vehicles to which the respondent has access.
SB 2975, by state Senators Shan Tsutsui (D-4) and Will Espero (D-20), would have required that a firearm that was lost or stolen be reported to the police within seventy-two hours of discovery.
All of the other measures we reported on at the beginning of the 2012 legislative session failed to pass out of one or both legislative chambers. For a complete list of the bills reported on, please see our previous alert.