I'm just starting to work my way through the new firearms legislation for this session. There are way too many to read through at once, but upon cursory examination, here are a few highlights and lowlights from my perspective.
This House Bill HB710 introduced by Hamakua representative Mark Nakashima simply strikes the "exceptional case...may" phrase and replaces it with "shall" issue. I like the simplicity, but doubt many legislators would go for that, it's too close to the actual constitutions... well, except that the constitutions don't mention needing any government permission of any kind, at all.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2015/bills/HB710_.htmSB955 by Slom and Gabbard: Provides protections against burdensome retroactive regulation and lawsuits; prevents frivolous claims against shooting range operators and individuals engaging in target shooting.
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2015/Bills/SB955_.PDFFrom senator Shimakuburo, SB783:
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2015/bills/SB783_.HTMMental Health; Firearm Permit Requirements; Psychological Clearance Requirements
Description: Specifies that an additional penalty for refusal to submit to a breath, blood, or urine test and requires the surrender of all firearms and ammunition within possession. Requires firearms permit application forms to be accompanied by an affirmation that neither the applicant nor any family or household member is or has been diagnosed with or treated for certain mental disorders and that if the applicant or family or household member is subsequently diagnosed, the applicant shall lock and secure or surrender all firearms and ammunition within 48 hours. Requires payment of a fine of $50 per day of noncompliance with the requirement to lock and secure, or surrender, firearms and ammunition within 48 hours. Specifies failure to pay child or spousal support as a good cause for revocation of a firearm permit or license. Creates an exemption for law enforcement officers.
SB196 Firearms Registration Fee; Firearms Permit to Acquire Fee; Counties [From ESPERO, Galuteria, L. Thielen]
http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2015/bills/SB196_.HTMDescription: Allows each county council to establish a processing fee for a firearms permit to acquire
and firearm registration.
[Yeah, now we get to pay for BOTH EACH permit to acquire AND EACH registration. Waddya guess they're gonna decide is a "fair" fee for each process? One dollar? Or Twenty-five dollars? Here's a hint from the bill: "(d) A fee of [
$10] $25 shall be charged for each license and shall be deposited in the treasury of the county in which the license is granted." So they are not satisfied with merely violating our constitutionally-guaranteed rights by requiring that we ask for and acquire permission from "our" government to keep a firearm, but now we must pay them each time we go ask for the privilege of submitting to their tyranny. Gotta love it. I get the Boston Tea Party thing. Profanities deleted.]