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« on: February 11, 2019, 12:37:06 AM »
*****WARNING: THIS IS GOING TO PISS SOME OF YOU OFF*****
I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR THE LENGTH AND TONE OF THIS POST, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. PLEASE BEAR WITH ME AND KEEP AN OPEN MIND.
AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY, INTERGOVERNMENTAL, AND MILITARY AFFAIRS (PSM) MET ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 7, 2019 TO DISCUSS AND RULE ON 5 FIREARMS RELATED BILLS. AT THE END OF THE HEARING, 1 MEASURE WAS PASSED AS IS, 3 PASSED WITH AMENDMENTS, AND 1 WAS DIFFERED. WHAT I'M HERE TO DISCUSS IS NOT THE RESULTS OF THE HEARING BUT TO DISCUSS HOW WE AS A COMMUNITY TOTALLY FAILED!!! WE FAILED BECAUSE WE DIDN'T ACT, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, DIDN'T ACT TOGETHER! LET ME EXPLAIN.....
TO SUMMARIZE, THE POINT OF ORDER NEEDING TO BE DISCUSSED IS THE FACT THAT HUNDREDS OF FIREARMS OWNERS TESTIMONY WAS LEFT OFF THE RECORD, AND NOT CONSIDERED BY THE SENATORS. I'M GOING TO SAY THIS ONE TIME, AND LET THIS BE A HARD LESSON FOR US ALL: THE SENATORS ARE NOT TO BLAME FOR THE TESTIMONY BEING DISALLOWED. WHILE I APPRECIATE THE EFFORT BY MANY OF OUR MEMBERS TO COLLECT TESTIMONY OVER MANY DAYS AT KOKO HEAD SHOOTING COMPLEX, THE ADVICE OF THE HAWAII RIFLE ASSOCIATION, AND THE NRA-ILA WAS NOT TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION WHEN PLANNING THIS COURSE OF ACTION. THE HRA AND NRA-ILA SENT OUT EMAILS SAYING TO SUBMIT YOUR TESTIMONY VIA THE STATE WEBSITE, EMAIL YOUR SENATOR OR REPRESENTATIVE DIRECTLY, AND CALL THEM DIRECTLY IF YOU CAN. BY NOT HAVING EACH PERSON SUBMIT OFFICIAL TESTIMONY VIA THE STATE WEBSITE, WE AS A COMMUNITY WAS NOT REPRESENTED OR HEARD ON KEY FIREARMS LEGISLATION. I UNDERSTAND THAT TECHNICALLY, BY RECEIVING EMAILED TESTIMONY, THE SENATORS ARE LEGALLY REQUIRED TO CONSIDER IT. BUT LET'S BY COMPLETELY HONEST, OUR POLITICIANS DON'T PLAY A FAIR GAME BY FAIR RULES. BY DOING WHAT WE DID, COLLECTING TESTIMONY, AND EMAILING IT DIRECTLY, WE MAY HAVE THOUGHT THAT WE WERE SENDING A UNITED MESSAGE. ON THE CONTRARY, WE COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. EVERYONE'S TESTIMONY WAS SWEPT UNDER A RUG. WHY?!?! BECAUSE WE ALLOWED THEM TO DO IT!!! THIS IS NO ONE'S FAULT BUT OUR OWN. YOU CAN SIT HERE BLAMING THE POLITICIANS AND THE SYSTEM, BUT AT WHAT END? IT DOESN'T CHANGE WHAT HAPPENED. IT WON'T CHANGE HOW THINGS ARE DONE AT THE CAPITOL. AND IT CERTAINLY WON'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT WE ARE FACING THE BIGGEST THREAT TO OUR CIVIL LIBERTIES THAT WE ALL HAVE EVER FACED. NOW WE CAN BITCH AND COMPLAIN, AND POINT FINGERS, AND SQUABBLE AMONGST OURSELVES, OR WE CAN TAKE AN HONEST LOOK AT HOW WE FAILED, WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST, AND HOW TO REALLY STAND STRONG AND PUT UP A SOLID DEFENSE, WIN OR LOSE.
IF YOU AGREE, AND ARE WILLING TO SET ASIDE YOUR EGO, AND LISTEN TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY: READ ON. OTHERWISE EXIT OUT OF HERE, AND GET YOUR GUNS READY TO BE CONFISCATED OR TURNED IN.
UNDERSTAND THIS HUGE FACT: REGARDLESS OF HOW MANY TESTIMONIES WE HAVE, HOW STRONG OUR ARGUMENTS ARE, HOW MUCH WE MAY HAVE LEGAL PRECEDENCE ON OUR SIDE, WE WILL LOSE EVERY FIREARMS BATTLE, IN THE STATE OF HAWAII, BECAUSE THE ANTI-GUN LEGISLATORS HAVE THE SUPER MAJORITY TO PASS ANY BILL THEY WANT, OR OVERRIDE ANY VETO BY ANY SYMPATHETIC GOVERNOR. AS MUCH AS WE DON'T LIKE IT, IT'S THEIR GAME, THEIR ARENA, AND THEIR RULES. WE MAY NOT LIKE IT, BUT THOSE ARE THE FACTS. IF YOU WANT TO "WIN", YOU HAVE TO KNOW WHEN TO PUSH, AND WHEN TO BACK OFF. WHEN TO NEGOTIATE, AND WHEN TO STAND YOUR GROUND.
THIS IS THE PATHETIC SUMMARY OF THIS PAST WEEKS PSM HEARING. LET THIS SINK IN:
1. ONLY 6 PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO THE HEARING IN PERSON.....6!!! LET ME LIST THEM FOR EVERYONE HERE: HARVEY GERWIG, HRA PRESIDENT, KERRY NAGAI, HRA, DANIEL REED, NRA-ILA, MIKE (SORRY, I FORGOT THE LAST NAME), HAD HIFICO PAPERWORK, CRAIG KASHIWAI, FFL-RED LETTER INDUSTRIES, AND MYSELF, DEVIN SASAI, FFL-BUSHIDO ARMS & AMMUNITION LLC. SORRY GANG, BUT THAT IS TRULY PATHETIC!!! NOW I KNOW THAT WE ALL HAVE TO WORK. WE NEED TO PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILY. WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS. AND I'M SURE THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF YOU THAT THOUGHT YOUR TESTIMONY WAS GOING TO BE COUNTED (AND IT SHOULD'VE BEEN). BUT THE FACTS IS THAT IT WASN'T COUNTED. AND THE FACT THAT THERE WERE MORE ANTI-GUN GROUPS REPRESENTED THAN PRO-GUN WAS VERY TELLING AND DEPRESSING. AT THE VERY LEAST, WHERE WERE THE OTHER FFL DEALERS? COULDN'T THEY HAVE AT LEAST SENT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE COMPANY? WHERE WERE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE LOCAL GUN ORGANIZATIONS, OR SHOOTING CLUBS? AGAIN, TRULY PATHETIC!!
2. WHEN YOU SIT IN ON A HEARING, THE CHAIRMAN READS THE NAMES OF BOTH THE SUPPORTING AND OPPOSING TESTIMONIES. NOW I KNOW THAT WE SHOULD'VE HAD MORE THAN 700 NAMES IN OPPOSITION, BUT OFFICIALLY, THE MEASURES WERE RULED ON WITHOUT ANY OF THOSE TESTIMONIES COUNTED. THAT IS THE COLD HARD TRUTH. OF THE REMAINING 50+ TESTIMONIES (YES. ONLY 50+!!!), I DIDN'T HEAR ANY OTHER FFL DEALERS NAMES, ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS OF ORGANIZATIONS, ALMOST NO NAMES FROM GUN CLUBS. NONE! NADA! ZIP! FOLKS, WE ARE HANDING THE ANTI-GUNNERS A VICTORY ON A SILVER PLATTER!!
3. BY NOT HAVE THOSE TESTIMONIES THAT WERE COLLECTED BY THOSE HARD WORKING INDIVIDUALS COUNTED. WE SHOWED THE LEGISLATURE THAT, AS A COMMUNITY, WE DON'T CARE!!! AND LIKE IT OR NOT, THAT FAILURE FALLS AT THE FEET OF THE LEADERS OF EVERY ORGANIZATION. WE ALL ARE ON THE SAME SIDE WHEN IT COMES TO OUR 2ND AMENDMENT RIGHTS. WHEN COMBATING A FORCE SUCH AS THIS, WE CANNOT JUST DO OUR OWN THING. ORGANIZATIONS NEED TO BE SYNCHRONIZED IN THEIR EFFORT TO FIGHT. OTHERWISE, AS IN THIS CASE, ALL THE HARD WORK WAS JUST WASTED! THAT WAS THE ATTITUDE BY MANY "CHEFS IN THE KITCHEN". JUST BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT LIKE THE WAY THE HRA OR THE NRA DEFENDS US, DOESN'T MEAN THAT YOU COMPLETELY DISREGARD THEIR INPUT (WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED). THE INTENTIONS WERE AWESOME, NOBLE, AND HONORABLE. BUT IF WE ARE HONEST, THE EXECUTION WAS PISS POOR!!! AND I DON'T THINK A LOT OF US WANT TO HEAR EXCUSES. BOTTOM LINE IS THAT TESTIMONY WAS COLLECTED, BUT IT WASN'T CONSIDERED. NOT BECAUSE IT WASN'T SUBMITTED CORRECTLY OR LEGALLY, BUT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T PLAY THEIR GAME BY THEIR RULES! WE GOTTA LEARN, AND LEARN FAST!
SO NOW THAT WE ARE CLEAR ON WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED, WHAT DO WE DO NOW? IN MY OPINION, HERE'S WHAT WE HAVE TO DO:
NUMBER 1: THE BATTLE IS NOT OVER, BUT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT!! THESE 5 BILLS ARE PRETTY MUCH DONE. OUR BEST CHANCE TO DEFEAT THEM WAS IN THIS COMMITTEE WITH 3 OF 5 MEMBERS THAT LEAN MORE PRO-GUN. BUT WITHOUT TESTIMONY OR ATTENDANCE, THERE'S NOT MUCH THEY COULD'VE DONE. NOW IT'S ON TO THE JUDICIARY WHERE MAJOR ANTI-GUN KARL (MARX) RHOADS IS THE CHAIRMAN. REGARDLESS OF TESTIMONY, HE'S GOING TO PASS IT TO THE FULL SENATE. THESE BILLS ARE DONE! WE LOST! BUT THE REALLY BAD BILLS ARE STILL TO COME. THE ONES THAT WILL MAKE 90% OF US INSTANT FELONS. THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO FOCUS ON NOW. FORGET THE PAST. FORGET OUR MISTAKES. WE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT AGAINST SB1334, HB1303, AND HB1531. WE NEED TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE 3 POSSIBLE OUTCOMES. WE CAN HAVE THEM DIFFERED, WE CAN HAVE THEM PASSED, BUT AMENDED TO INCLUDED AN EFFECTIVE DATE AND GRANDFATHER CLAUSE, OR WE CAN HAVE IT PASSED AS IS, AND WE ARE ALL FUCKED. WE HAVE TO BE READY TO ACCEPT THE FACT THAT OPTIONS 2 & 3 ARE A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY, AND THAT IF/WHEN PASSED, WE ARE GOING TO NEED TO FILE A JUDICIAL CHALLENGE, WHICH WILL TAKE TIME AND MONEY. IF PASSED, HOPEFULLY WE CAN GET AN INJUNCTION DELAYING THE LAW FROM TAKING AFFECT WHILE IT GOES TO COURT, BUT WITH OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM, AND WITH HAWAII IN THE 9TH CIRCUIT, IT MAY BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE PREVAIL. BY THAT TIME, WE ALL MIGHT NOT HAVE OUR GUNS ANYMORE, HAVE OF GUNS CONFISCATED AND DESTROYED, OR WORSE, BE INCARCERATED.
NUMBER 2: WE NEED TESTIMONIES, ATTENDANCE, AND EVEN A RALLY AT THE CAPITOL. AS WE HAVE SEEN, THE MASS COLLECTION OF TESTIMONIES WAS SHOT DOWN AND NULLIFIED. DOES THAT MEAN OUR CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS STOP COLLECTING TESTIMONIES AND SIGNATURES? OF COURSE NOT!! WE JUST NEED THOSE TESTIMONIES TO COUNT. SO HOW DO WE MULTIPLY OUR VOICES? EVERY INDIVIDUAL NEEDS TO TESTIFY VIA THE STATE WEBSITE AT MINIMUM. THAT COUNTS AS 1. EVERY LOBBYING ORGANIZATION NEEDS TO COLLECT TESTIMONY AND SIGNATURES AS AN ORGANIZATION! THE MORE YOU BELONG TO, THE MORE TIMES YOUR VOICE IS COUNTED....IF THE ORGANIZATION PUTS IN THE EFFORT TO DO THIS. IF SO, OUR VOICES WOULD COUNT AT LEAST 1, 2, OR 3 MORE TIMES! ALL SHOOTING CLUBS NEED TO DO THIS AS WELL. COLLECT SIGNATURES ON PETITIONS, AND SUBMIT COLLECTIVE TESTIMONY. BELONG TO 4 CLUBS? YOUR VOICE HAS BEEN COUNTED 4 MORE TIMES! SEE WHERE I'M GOING WITH THIS? ALSO, WE NEED TO CONVINCE OUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO TESTIFY ON OUR BEHALF. LET THEM KNOW THAT THEIR LOVED ONES, FRIENDS, AND CO-WORKERS, COULD BE LABELLED AS CRIMINALS IF THESE BILLS PASS. WE NEED AS MANY NUMBERS AS POSSIBLE. WE ALSO NEED ATTNDANCE AT ALL THE HEARINGS. I KNOW IT'S TOUGH FOR ALL OF US TO TAKE TIME OFF FROM WORK, BUT OUR OPPONENTS ARE DOING IT. SO SHOULD WE. NO EXCUSES! WE NEED TO VISUALLY SHOW A PRESENCE AT THESE HEARINGS! THESE HEARINGS ARE ALWAYS SCHEDULED VERY SNEAKILY AT THE LAST MINUTE, AND AT WEIRD TIMES TO CATCH US OFF GUARD. WE NEED TO BE READY FOR THAT. LASTLY, WHEN THESE HEARINGS ARE SCHEDULED, WE NEED TO COORDINATE A RALLY AT THE CAPITOL TO SHOW OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS HOW MANY OF US THERE ARE, AND HOW MANY OF OF WOULD BECOME FELONS. SOMETHING WHERE WE COORDINATE WHAT WE WEAR. A CUSTOM SHIRT. A UNIFIED COLOR. STRAPPING ON EMPTY HOLSTERS. SOMETHING THAT SHOWS OUR POSITION AND STRENGTH.
NUMBER 3: THIS IS FOR THE FFL DEALERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CLUBS. WE ARE THE LEADERS OF THIS COMMUNITY. WE HAVE THE MOST AT STAKE IF THESE BILL PASS. THE FACT THAT THERE ARE NEARLY 200 FFLS, CLUBS, AND ORGANIZATIONS, AND THERE WERE ONLY A HANDFUL OF TESTIMONIES FROM THIS DEMOGRAPHIC, IS DEVASTATING!! WE AS THE LEADERS, FAILED OUR COMMUNITIES, OUR CUSTOMERS, OUR FRIENDS. I PERSONALLY DO MY PART EVERY TIME THESE BILLS COME UP, BUT I AM NOT EXEMPT FROM BLAME. I AM PROBABLY MORE TO BLAME THAN ANY OTHER BECAUSE I DO THIS ALL THE TIME. FOR MY PART, I APOLOGIZE TO YOU ALL, AND ASK FOR YOUR FORGIVENESS. I ALSO PROMISE TO TAKE A MORE ACTIVE ROLL IN OUR FIREARMS LEGISLATION. IN LAYMAN'S TERMS, I'M PUTTING MY MONEY WHERE MY MOUTH IS. I MAY LOSE FRIENDS OR BUSINESS FROM IT, BUT IF I DON'T PROTECT OUR RIGHTS, I WON'T HAVE A BUSINESS OR SPORT THAT I LOVE. I NEED TO DO MORE. YOU NEED TO DO MORE. WE NEED TO DO MORE! I PROPOSE THAT WE ALL COMMIT TO HAVING EVERYONE IN OUR ORGANIZATIONS OR COMPANIES SUBMIT TESTIMONY, AND TO HAVE AT LEAST 1 REPRESENTATIVE ATTEND EVERY SCHEDULED HEARING. THE STAKES ARE HIGH ENOUGH THAT EVERYONE SHOULD BE ON BOARD WITH THIS. IF YOU NEED HELP FACILITATING THIS, LET ME KNOW AND I'LL PERSONALLY HELP YOU ALL.
I KNOW WE ARE ALL MAD. I KNOW WE ALL FEEL LIKE WE'RE GETTING SHAFTED UP THE HOO-HA WITH A BROOM HANDLE. BUT WE CAN EITHER ACCEPT OUR FATE, OR WE CAN FIGHT LIKE HELL TO KILL THESE BILLS, OR AT THE VERY LEAST, SOFTEN THEM. EITHER STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD. AND EVEN IF WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN, THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE WE MAY FAIL. WE HAVE TO BE MENTALLY PREPARED FOR THAT. I DON'T KNOW ABOUT ANY OF YOU, BUT I WILL NOT GO DOWN WITHOUT DOING WHATEVER I CAN TO PROTECT EVERYONE IN THE 2A COMMUNITY. I ONLY ASK THAT YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN TO HELP AS WELL. MORE IF YOU CAN, BUT NO LESS THAN SUBMITTING TESTIMONY THE WAY THE SOCIALISTS WANT US TO: THROUGH THE STATE WEBSITE. NO EXCEPTIONS. IF YOU PERSONALLY NEED ME TO EMAIL YOU WHEN A HEARING IS SET AND TESTIMONY CAN BE UPLOADED, I WILL ADD YOU TO MY LIST OF RECIPIENTS. AGAIN, WHATEVER I CAN DO TO COMBAT THIS!!
I WANT TO AGAIN APOLOGIZE TO THE ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR NOT DOING MORE ON MY PART. I HAD THE ABILITY TO MAKE A LARGER IMPACT, AND I LET THAT OPPORTUNITY SLIP AWAY. BECAUSE OF THAT, WE HAVE ALL SUFFERED. I ONLY ASK THAT YOU ALLOW ME TO ATTEMPT TO MAKE IT UP TO ALL OF YOU.
MY SINCERE APOLOGIES,
DEVIN
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