Hawaii: Bill to Require Background Checks on Already Owned Firearms Goes to Conference Committee

Last Thursday, House amendments to Senate Bill 69 were rejected by the state Senate, sending it to a conference committee.  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 amended in the state House into a mandatory background check bill on already acquired firearms.  This conference committee will meet to resolve differences between the House and Senate versions of this bill tomorrow at 10:30am in Conference Room 312 of the State Capitol.  No public testimony will be accepted at this meeting.

It is important that you contact your state legislators, as well as the Senate and House Conferees listed below.  Urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 69 in any form.  Contact information for your state legislators can be found here.

Senate Conferees:

Senator Will Espero (D-19), Chair

808-586-6360

[email protected]

Senator David Ige (D-16), Co-Chair

808-586-6230

[email protected]

Senator Josh Green (D-3)

808-586-9385

[email protected]

Senator Gilbert Kahele (D-1)

808-586-6760

[email protected]

Senator Ronald Kouchi (D-8)

808-586-6030

[email protected]

House Conferees:

Representative Henry Aquino (D-38), Co-Chair

808-586-6520

[email protected]

Representative Kaniela Ing (D-11), Co-Chair

808-586-8525

[email protected]

Representative Karl Rhoads (D-29), Co-Chair

808-586-6180

[email protected]

Representative Linda Ichiyama

808-586- 6220

[email protected]

Representative Cynthia Thielen (R-50)

808-586-6480

[email protected]