Hawaii: Anti-Gun Bills Scheduled for Hearings This Thursday!

On Thursday, February 7^th, the Hawaii state Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs is scheduled to hear Senate Bills 556, 600, 621, and 1466.  Contact members of the Committee and urge their opposition to SB 556, SB 600, SB 621 and SB 1466.

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.

Senate Bill 556, introduced by Senator Karl Rhoads (D-13), would require notification to the Terrorist Screening Center of the FBI before a determination can be made to issue or deny a firearm permit.  This legislation is unnecessary, as notification is already provided when utilizing the National Instant Check System (NICS), which Hawaii utilizes as part of the background check inquiry.  Any determination based solely on inclusion on this list would violate a person’s right to due process.  The NRA does not want terrorists or dangerous people to have firearms; however, the NRA is opposed to a secret government list, which a large number of Americans mistakenly end up on every year, being used to deny individuals their constitutional rights.  SB 556 is scheduled to be heard on February 7^th by the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs.

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 is scheduled to be heard on February 7^th in the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs.

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 is scheduled to be heard on February 7^th in the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs.  A similar bill, HB 720, has also been filed; however, a committee hearing has not been set at this time.

Senate Bill 1466, introduced by Senator Rhoads, 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.  These orders would lack due process, contain low evidentiary standards, and fall well below the norm for removing constitutional rights.  SB 1466 has been scheduled to be heard on February 7^th in the Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs.  A similar bill, HB 1543, has also been filed; however, a committee hearing has not been set at this time.

Again, please click the “Take Action” button above to contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bills 556, 600, 621, and 1466.