Hawaii: Two Anti-Gun Bills to be Heard in Multiple Committees TOMORROW

Tomorrow, February 12, two anti-gun bills, Senate Bill 674 and Senate Bill 783, have been scheduled for committee hearings.  SB 674 is scheduled for a joint-hearing in the Senate Committee on Energy and the Environment and the Committee on  Commerce and Consumer Protection at 2:45p.m. in Conference Room 225 of the State Capitol.  SB 783 is scheduled for a joint-hearing in the Senate Committee on Transportation and Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs at 2:45p.m. in Conference Room 229 of the State Capitol.

Senate Bill 674, introduced by state Senator Will Espero (D-19), would prohibit the selling and trading of ivory and rhinoceros horns.  Introduced with the intent of curbing poaching of African elephants, rhinoceros and other animal species poached for their ivory, this bill aims to eliminate the markets for ivory products.  However, SB 674 will not accomplish this goal.  Instead, this bill will harm firearms owners, sportsmen, hunters, recreational shooters and gun collectors who have legally purchased firearms (and knives, jewelry, etc.) which incorporate ivory features. 

Historically, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service maintained the position that most ivory in the U.S. has been legally imported and that its sale in the U.S. did not materially contribute to the illegal ivory trade.   Nevertheless, under SB 674, an individual would commit the offense of unlawful sale or trade of ivory or rhinoceros horn if the person sells, offers to sell, possesses with the intent to sell, or imports with the intent to sell any ivory or rhinoceros horn.  Virtually any lawful item containing any amount of ivory, with very limited and narrow exceptions, would be rendered valueless as it would be a misdemeanor to sell/buy for a first offense and a felony for a subsequent offense.  Please contact the members of the Senate Committee on Energy and the Environment as well as the Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection and politely urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 674.  Contact information for committee members can be found below.

Senate Bill 783 is an anti-gun bill introduced by state Senator Maile Shimabukuro (D-21) expanding the list of prohibited possessors.  This bill seeks to disqualify individuals from the ownership, possession and control of firearms and ammunition and would require the surrender of all firearms and ammunition of a person who:

1. Refuses to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test while under arrest; or
2. Refuses to sign a waiver, at the time of application for a firearm permit, which includes an affirmation that neither the applicant nor any family or household member is, or has been, diagnosed with any significant behavioral, emotional or mental disorders, as defined by the diagnostic and statistical manual of the American Psychiatric Association; or
3. Fails to pay child or spousal support

This egregious bill would cause you to lose your Second Amendment rights if you chose to invoke your Fourth Amendment rights.  Please contact members of the Senate Committee on Transportation as well as the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs and politely urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 783.  Contact information for the committee members can be found below.

Senate Committee on Energy and the Environment Members:

Senator Mike Gabbard (D-20), Chair
(808) 586-6830
[email protected]   

Senator Josh Green (D-13), Vice Chair
(808) 586-9385
[email protected]   

Senator Brickwood Galuteria (D-12)
(808) 586-6740
[email protected]  

Senator Sam Slom (R-9)
(808) 586-8426
[email protected]  

Senator Les Ihara (D-10)
(808) 586-6250
[email protected]  

Senate Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection Members:

Senator Rosalyn Baker (D-6), Chair
(808) 586-6070
[email protected]  

Senator Brian Taniguchi (D-11), Vice Chair
(808) 586-6460
[email protected]

Senator Gilbert Kahele (D-1)
(808) 586-6760
[email protected]

Senator Michelle Kidani (D-18)
(808) 586-7100
[email protected]

Senator Clarence K. Nishihara (D-17)
(808) 586-6970
[email protected]

Senator Glenn Wakai (D-15)
(808) 586-8585
[email protected]

Senator Sam Slom (R-9)
(808) 586-8420
[email protected]

Senate Committee on Transportation Members:

Senator Clarence K. Nishihara (D-17), Chair
(808) 586-6970
[email protected]

Senator Breene Harimoto (D-16), Vice-Chair
(808) 586-6230
[email protected]

Senator Donovan Dela Cruz (D-22)
(808) 586-6090
[email protected]

Senator J. Kalani English (D-7)
(808) 587-7225
[email protected]

Senator Will Espero (D-19)
(808) 586-6360
[email protected]

Senator Lorraine Inouye (D-4)
(808) 586-7335
[email protected]

Senator Michelle Kidani (D-18)
(808) 586-7100
[email protected]

Senator Ronald Kouchi (D-8)
(808) 586-6030
[email protected]

Senator Sam Slom (R-9)
(808) 586-8420
[email protected]

Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs Members:

Senator Will Espero (D-19), Chair
(808) 586-6360
[email protected]

Senator Rosalyn H. Baker, (D-6), Vice Chair
(808) 586-6070
[email protected]

Senator Sam Slom (R-9)
(808) 586-8426
[email protected]

Senator Gilbert Keith-Agaran (D-5)
(808) 586-7344
[email protected]

Senator Brickwood Galuteria (D-12)
(808) 586-6829
[email protected]