Hawaii: Senate Committee to Hear Anti-Gun Legislation

Tomorrow, March 19^th, the Hawaii state Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs will hear anti-gun legislation, House Bill 720.   Please consider submitting testimony through the Hawaii Legislative website and by clicking on the “Take Action” button below to email members directly.  For help creating an account and submitting testimony, click here.

House Bill 720, introduced by Representative Chris Lee (D-51), would set a one-size-fits-all requirement for gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours, further victimizing gun owners who have suffered a loss or theft of their property.  HB 720 was passed by the state House on February 28^th and has been referred to both the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Veterans and Military Affairs and the Senate Committee on Judiciary.

Again, please use the Hawaii Legislative website and click the “Take Action” button to contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE House Bill 720. 

Last week the House Committee on Public Safety, Veteran and Military Affairs heard three anti-gun bills.  The Committee passed SB 600, SB 621, and SB 1466.

Senate Bill 600, introduced by Senator Clarence Nishihara (D-17), would raise the minimum age to transport a firearm into the state to the age of 21.  By raising the age for firearm importation, persons who have lawfully acquired firearms outside of Hawaii who are traveling to the state for purposes of hunting, target competition, or even relocating would be discriminated against based on their age and denied their constitutional rights.  SB 600 was passed by the Committee with amendments.

Senate Bill 621, introduced by Senator Nishihara, would set a one-size-fits-all requirement for gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms within 24 hours, further victimizing gun owners who have suffered a loss or theft of their property.  SB 621 was passed by the committee with amendments. 

Senate Bill 1466, introduced by Senator Karl Rhoads (D-29), would create Gun Violence Protective Orders (GVPO).  A GVPO would be issued not because a person has been convicted of a crime or adjudicated mentally ill, but instead on third party allegations.  This legislation lacks strong due process protections, contain low evidentiary standards, and falls well below the norm for removing fundamental, constitutional rights.  SB 1466 was passed by the committee with amendments.