I wanted to let you know that HRA and LIFE have sent a letter to the Mayor about this issue and are encouraging everyone to do the same. The complete message is posted on our respective Facebook pages and should be up on the websites soon. Here is the content of those postings and the letter to the Mayor. Please feel free to distribute widely and encourage others to do the same. Thanks!

Last night there was a disturbing news report on KGMB with an exclusive investigation performed by Keoki Kerr.  Please see the report below:

EXCLUSIVE: HPD will destroy 2,300 old guns worth $500K:  http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/29721656/exclusive-hpd-will-destroy-2300-old-guns-worth-500k

It is very important that you voice your concerns about the way the city is handling the situation as soon as possible.  Contact Mayor Caldwell by phone: 808-768-4141 and via his "Contact the Mayor" website: https://www.honolulu.gov/mayor/contactthemayor.html

Contact Council member Ann Kobayashi:

Akobayashi@honolulu.gov
808-768-5005

Contact your district council member, you can find their contact information at www.honolulu.gov/component/article.html?id=1740:ccl-view-council-members

Contact HPD: http://honolulupd.org/contact/index.php?page=contact

I will be sending this letter to the mayor to voice my concerns:

Mayor Caldwell,

After viewing the story on KGMB about HPD wanting to destroy $500,000.00 worth of fully functional guns rather than recoup some revenue on them, we at Lessons in Firearms Education (LIFE) and the Hawaii Rifle Association (HRA) were quite dismayed. In these times of lean budgets and continual cost cutting to needed city services, to throw away a half million dollars seems senseless.

The reason your office and HPD gave for not selling to the public seemed to be a slight on those legal gun owners who would have purchased them and who supported you during your election. You should be ashamed for suggesting that the good citizens of Hawaii cannot be trusted with buying HPD’s surplus guns for fear of them falling into criminal hands when record numbers of firearms have been bought by those same citizens for the last 10 years without any such problems.

To claim that selling these guns was going to "put them on the streets" as if to infer they were destined to fall into the hands of criminals seems a bit irrational and alarmist considering the rigorous processes that are currently place for the sole purpose of preventing that type of diversion and that law abiding citizens go thorough each and every time they purchase handguns. In conformity with Hawaii law, HPD’s surplus firearms could only be sold using this process, which includes mandatory training, a background check, and a 14 day waiting period.

We at LIFE and HRA offer our assistance in finding a way to sell these fully functional guns to responsible gun owners.

We at LIFE and HRA respectfully request the decision to destroy these fully functional guns be reversed. 

Bill Richter, President
Lessons in Firearms Education.

Harvey Gerwig, President
Hawaii Rifle Association

they dont care.  Kealoha said they wouldnt sell them because "they didnt want more guns on the streets".  in a state that hasnt had more than 30 murders a year in over a decade, and hasnt broken double digit gun murders in....a long time.

not like we have to go to the police station 3 times and register the pistol with the state and not like we cant legally concealed or open carry or anything...

guns on the street my ass.

At the very least you would think they could sell them to a police force somewhere in the world. I have seen this coming for a while when HPD announced they were going to Glock and I am glad that someone is reporting on this massive waste of money.

At the very least you would think they could sell them to a police force somewhere in the world. I have seen this coming for a while when HPD announced they were going to Glock and I am glad that someone is reporting on this massive waste of money.

they talked about donating them to the American Samoan police force.  not even selling.  its like they're TRYING to waste money.

they talked about donating them to the American Samoan police force.  not even selling.  its like they're TRYING to waste money.

I find it hard to believe that any of the surplus arms companies out there will not make an offer on these. I can name probably a half dozen companies that would probably jump on these if they knew they were coming available. If they can make some $ there is no reason they would not be drooling over them. I believe the politicians are just plain stoopid!!!! 

http://www.aimsurplus.com/product.aspx?item=F1SWMP9

Exactly! AIM was one of the companies I was thinking of (And I have purchased a gun or two from).

Sheriff and dept. of corrections traded their guns in for a hefty credit.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20150807_agency_to_change_duty_weapons.html?id=321011651

  is wrong with Caldwell and Kealoha ?

Sheriff and dept. of corrections traded their guns in for a hefty credit.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/newspremium/20150807_agency_to_change_duty_weapons.html?id=321011651

  is wrong with Caldwell and Kealoha ?

 

They don't manufacture these guns anymore so whoever buys them needs to realize that they might not be able to get spare parts easily.

They don't manufacture these guns anymore so whoever buys them needs to realize that they might not be able to get spare parts easily.

Some of us buy guns specifically because they are so old that parts are hard to come by. 

Hell, 75% of the guns I own are like that. 

Some of us buy guns specifically because they are so old that parts are hard to come by. 

Hell, 75% of the guns I own are like that. 

Because of the price or because you can make your own parts?

I have 1930-1945 vintage Russian rifles and a pistol.  I don't buy them to use for home defense or competition.  I like the history and mystique of owning firearms that are barely older than most of the jokes on this site!

I don't worry about parts.  You can either look for a cheap, beat up firearm of the same type to scavenger parts, or there are places which stock recycled parts from demolished guns.

If you are that worried about a parts shortage, you can always buy two.  If one needs a few parts, the other one can donate! 

Because of the price or because you can make your own parts?

Price can be a factor. Unfortunately, my tastes seem to run towards the harder to find more expensive. I don't own as many as I like due to this. I have always wanted to start a collection of Mausers. Most Mausers can be reasonably priced. And there are a lot still out there. But before I started on the Mausers I got the bug for 1903 Springfield, M1 Garand and next is M1 Carbine, then 30-40 Krag....

I'm a bit confused here on the numbers.

You mean the S & W 9mm's they have are only worth $250 each ? 
I'll take a dozen.
I'm sure I put more rounds down the tube of mine than they have of there's. 

What is the real consignment/resale price on one of these puppies ?
Model and year ?

they dont care.  Kealoha said they wouldnt sell them because "they didnt want more guns on the streets".  in a state that hasnt had more than 30 murders a year in over a decade, and hasnt broken double digit gun murders in....a long time.

not like we have to go to the police station 3 times and register the pistol with the state and not like we cant legally concealed or open carry or anything...

guns on the street my ass.

They do care...maybe not about the guns or the wasted taxpayer money, but they do care about votes. Caldwell counted on and courted the gun owner's vote. We need to use that now. When they get flooded with emails and calls we have a much better bargaining position if something does change.

I don't understand the apathy related to actually spending 5 minutes to message those folks. You want change, you gotta be part of it, not the cheering section.

I wonder if any of this was on the advice of the legal advisor to the department. I understand someone might the emotional argument that the department was responsible if one of the guns they sold were used in a murder but I cannot imagine if any sort of legal argument could be made that way.

It doesn't make any sense.

The Dept of Corrections and Sheriff turned in the same 9mm's and 38 revolvers for a hefty credit this year.

What is the difference ?
State vs County ?

I wonder if any of this was on the advice of the legal advisor to the department. I understand someone might the emotional argument that the department was responsible if one of the guns they sold were used in a murder but I cannot imagine if any sort of legal argument could be made that way.

Unless the guns are sold without conforming to the state's strict permitting process, liability for misuse of the gun cannot be attached to the seller.

Look at Operation Fast and Furious.  We know some of those guns were used in crimes, but nobody has been held accountable.