This might be more of a rant but I hope to gain a different perspective from you all after posting this subject.

I want to register a long gun from a pvt. party who's father has deceased.  I've read the laws and the process.  My question is " wouldn't it be better if HPD would allow all firearm to be registered regardless of how it was acquired"? Who cares how one gets the firearm, if a responsible gun owner who has a authorization to acquire and register the gun wants to keep or get the firearm registered; who cares where the firearm came from. At least they now know where the firearm is. If somehow the deceased comes back to life and tells the beneficiary he wants it back? WTFC.

Thanks for reading and chime in if you'd like.  Maybe I need a better perspective on the process or is that my fault in the first place.

Of course it would be better.  But you have to recall why HPD exists.  They are not here to make life better.  They are here to enforce the law.  No matter how sympathetic the members of the police force may be, their job, and the standards to which they are held accountable, come from the state lawmakers. 

So, if you want change, if you want gun laws (or any laws, for that matter) which actually make sense, then you know where to go.

So, if you want change, if you want gun laws (or any laws, for that matter) which actually make sense, then you know where to go.

I went. I spoke. They totally ignored me. Just sayin'...

Here was my recent experience at HPD back in July. I've had many registrations before then (all good, no problems), but this one might give you some perspective on how HPD does business.

My father had passed away in June from cancer and I brought back from California a number of long arms and pistols to register. My mom was the executor of his estate, and as per the HPD information on their website, we got a notarized form showing the transfer of the firearms to me. I also had a copy of his death certificate. When I went up to the counter they didn't want to see any of the paperwork, they just believed me when I told them and processed it as an out-of-state registration. While I was waiting for my paperwork to be completed, I watched a guy attempt to register his Dad's shotgun, which he thought wasn't registered. His Dad had died locally 15 years ago, and the guy trying to register it never did anything with the shotgun. Turns out the shotgun was registered with his Dad. HPD demanded to see proof of his death certificate and a notarized form saying that the son was the executor of his Dad's estate before they would process the registration (the same thing they said they didn't need from me, despite the guidelines on the HPD website). The man had zero paperwork, his excuse was that they didn't know about the transfer requirement and his Dad never told him about how to care of his final arrangements. The guy at the counter was having none of it - told the man to come back within 10 days with the proper paperwork or they would confiscate and destroy the shotgun. Whether that was bluster on his part or not I don't know, but it certainly had the desired impact.

Bottomline, the guys at HPD have limited discretion. Follow the law as per the HRS 134 series, and you will have no problems. If you have any questions, call the HPD Firearms section and ask. They were very helpful and answered all my questions when I was still in CA and about to fly back with the firearms.