Councilman Tom Berg posted this on Facebook earlier tonight

Please help establish a public firing range in West Oahu- hearing is Sept 27 at 10:30am Honolulu Hale.
FOR ACTION

2. RESOLUTION 11-263  - PUBLIC SHOOTING COMPLEX IN KALAELOA. Resolution urging the City to develop a public shooting complex in Kalaeloa.

It's time to flood the Honolulu Hale and show our support!   

I also asked if he would take statements if we were unable to attend. His Reply:

Tom Berg Yes- email me at tomberg00 [at] yahoo [dot] com  and I can send you the details via regular email.

Here is the link for submitting testimony on- line.

http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-117106/6b4x7jqg.pdf

 

More,


CITY COUNCIL
CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU
HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813-3077
COMMITTEE ON PARKS AND
CULTURAL AFFAIRS
Voting Members:
Tom Berg, Chair
Ikaika Anderson, Vice Chair
Romy M. Cachola
Nestor Garcia
Breene Harimoto

AGENDA
REGULAR MEETING
COMMITTEE MEETING ROOM
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2011
10:30 A.M.

SPEAKER REGISTRATION:

Persons wishing to speak on items listed on the agenda are requested to register by 10:30 a.m. in the interest of time management as follows:

a.   use the On-Line City Council Speaker Registration form available at http://www1.honolulu.gov/council/attnspkpca.htm;
b.   send a fax to 768-3827 indicating your desire to register to speak, along with your name, phone number and subject matter;
c.   fill out the registration form in person; or
d.   call 768-3820.

Each speaker is limited to a one-minute presentation.

Persons who have not registered to speak should raise their hands at the time the item is announced and they will be given an opportunity to speak following oral testimonies of the registered speakers.

WRITTEN TESTIMONY:

If you wish to submit written testimony:

a.   fax to 768-3827 or
b.   go to http://www1.honolulu.gov/council/emailpca.htm to email your written testimony.

By submitting written testimony, you are not automatically registered to speak. Refer to “SPEAKER REGISTRATION” procedures above.

If submitted, written testimonies, including the testifier’s address, e-mail address, and phone number, may be posted by the City Clerk and available to the public on the City’s DocuShare Website.

Any physically challenged person requiring special assistance should call 768-3820 for details at least one day prior to the meeting date.

FOR APPROVAL

MINUTES OF THE AUGUST 30, 2011 MEETING

FOR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS / DONATIONS TO THE CITY

1.   RESOLUTION 11-261 – ACCEPTANCE OF GIFT FROM THE HAWAII GARDENIA CIRCLE. Relating to the acceptance of a gift to the City, valued at $10,887.72, from the Hawaii Gardenia Circle for the upkeep of the Ala Wai Golf Course 2nd Floor Multipurpose Facility. (Transmitted by Communication D-636)

FOR ACTION

2.   RESOLUTION 11-263 – PUBLIC SHOOTING COMPLEX IN KALAELOA. Resolution urging the City to develop a public shooting complex in Kalaeloa.

FOR DISCUSSION

3.   ONEULA BEACH PARK IMPACTS. Oneula Beach Park update including status on Master Plan: jersey barricades gifted to the City in non-compliance; adjacent properties to Oneula Beach Park to include drainage; and the status of native Hawaiian concerns pertinent to the development surrounding and of party to Oneula Beach Park.

4.   PALOLO DISTRICT PARK. Status on the repair of playground equipment at Palolo District Park.

Related communication:

D-639   Palolo Neighborhood Board No. 6, Resolution calling on the City to better maintain playground equipment at Palolo District Park.

TOM BERG, Chair
Committee on Parks and Cultural Affairs

Attention Speak Parks and Cultural Affairs, Official Web Site for The City and County of Honolulu
www1.honolulu.gov
If you do not receive an e-mail confirmation, our office has not received your registration. Please call the number shown on the respective council/committee agenda or try again.

http://hawaiiccw.com/news/gun-range-action-required-now/

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[E-mail and / or Contact Number]

Tom Berg, City Council
City and County of Honolulu
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813-3077
Committee on Parks and Cultural Affairs

Dear Voting Members:

I strongly support resolution 11-263 “Public Shooting Complex in Kalaeloa.”

Training with a firearm on a shooting range is a very critical part of learning to safely operate and handle firearms.  It is so important that the state demands citizens have it prior to purchasing a handgun for any purpose.  The problem is that currently we have almost nowhere to go and conduct this training. 
Please help us solve this problem.

A lack of available training facilities is detrimental to the safety of the public, our families, and our children.  It is of the utmost importance that we have additional places to educate ourselves and others on the safe and proper use of firearms.  Ultimately, trained citizens are more responsible and are also less likely to be involved in a negligent discharges.  Shouldn’t we work together to promote safety?

Lastly,  Hawaii firearm ownership is rapidly on the rise.  In fact, over the last decade, there were  224,130 firearms registered in our State. This trend of increasing firearm ownership means that every day there are more people and less park.  Our only public range, Kokohead Shooting Complex,  already has scarce hours and can’t support the public demand. Most importantly, Kokohead’s hours of operation are a burden for West Oahu residents. There is a clear need for a facility in West Oahu.

In the interest of public safety and recreation, I graciously request your support for this resolution.
Please vote yes for Resolution 11-263!

Mahalo,
[Your Name]

Chris Baker posted a form letter over at the Hawaii CCW website , so you can just fill in the blanks. Filing in the blanks and submitting is much better than nothing, but if you can take the time to do some personalization, it will be better. Feel free to add in stuff like your drive time, how often you would the range, etc. But at the very least, please fill out the form letter and submit it!

EDIT: Nevermind,Chris posted it here!

email sent !  thanks for the link and template

Sweet I'll write up my own testimony.  As for the 27th unfortunately I'm unable to show face as I have a conference to attend for work.  =( 

Just submitted my written testimony!! 

Me, too!

Submitted.

I was looking through the resolution; I like what it was saying. There are many old sites on Barbers that were previously rifle ranges, that I know of.

The last part of the resolution troubles me though.

"...that any new public shooting complex prohibit the use of ammunition that is environmentally harmful..."
http://www4.honolulu.gov/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-117106/6b4x7jqg.pdf

Is lead and lead cored ammunition considered 'environmentally harmful'?

If that is the case then that is a very disturbing, it opens the door for a ban on lead ammunition.
Non-lead ammo is very very expensive, and will kill the benefit of having a new firing range for leeward shooters.
Unless you are well funded military or LE.  I would hate for a new complex become a hangout for the rich and privileged elite!

This is troubling me, and I have not written any thing yet.  I would like to know more details, but the deadline is near.
Anyone have any facts about 'environmentally harmful ammunition'?

I saw that too, and it worried me as well. Very interesting and it sounds like a ban on lead ammunition. I don't know any other reason that would be in there.

Letter submitted 

I saw that too, and it worried me as well. Very interesting and it sounds like a ban on lead ammunition. I don't know any other reason that would be in there.

Does anybody know what Hawaii's definition is on evironmentally harmful ammunition?

I would suggest your folks testimony include not banning lead and lead core ammunition!

EPA has already lost on "lead ammo" issues; that is almost non-issue.   We can't even use frangible ammo here, which is the prime substitute for lead if I am not mistaken.

Submitted

EPA has already lost on "lead ammo" issues; that is almost non-issue.   We can't even use frangible ammo here, which is the prime substitute for lead if I am not mistaken.

You're right about the EPA, but I don't know if I'd be so quick to dismiss the concern about lead ammo.  City & County of Honolulu is not a federal agency, and I doubt the gun-grabbers would much care that there's no viable alternative for legal ammunition here.  I'd recommend including something in your letter along the lines of, "...provided that "enviromentally harmful ammunition" does not include ammunition containing lead, as having a range that bans lead ammunition would render the benefits of having a range on West Oahu practically nill." 

Quote from: Funtimes on September 22, 2011, 04:38:13 PM

EPA has already lost on "lead ammo" issues; that is almost non-issue.   We can't even use frangible ammo here, which is the prime substitute for lead if I am not mistaken.

You're right about the EPA, but I don't know if I'd be so quick to dismiss the concern about lead ammo.  City & County of Honolulu is not a federal agency, and I doubt the gun-grabbers would much care that there's no viable alternative for legal ammunition here.  I'd recommend including something in your letter along the lines of, "...provided that "enviromentally harmful ammunition" does not include ammunition containing lead, as having a range that bans lead ammunition would render the benefits of having a range on West Oahu practically nill." 

This!  Exactly!
I don't trust these politicians as far as I can throw them, and that is not too far, trust me. 

Hawaii has proven time and time again on how they can screw up things by wording alone.

I totally and completely support a range on the leeward side, but if it would entail using non lead ammo, the range is pointless. It would be a congregation of rich folk that can afford to blast off expensive as f$@# ammo, and leave all the common folk wondering what happened.

Sorry to say this, but I would rather see no range if it comes to no conventional ammunition. 

It would also make it easier to ban such things at our only other public shooting facility.

Just a quick google foo.

Non lead 9mm $30.99 for 50 @ MidwayUSA
Non lead 45acp $31.95 for 20 @ MidwayUSA
Non lead .308win $43.84 for 20 @ cheaperthandirt

Keep in mind they do not ship to Hawaii, so you know what the shops will increase these prices for hazmat and to break a profit.

Even for reloaders this would increase costs to something like double or more, and your ammo WILL NOT be as accurate.

$2.19 for a shot with your .308, and you can't hit shit!   The gun grabbers would love that!