Spreadsheet updated  2/26/2016 6:40pm
Link to spreadsheet -> https://goo.gl/1kZGOI

Guys something major is happening on 3/1/2016! 

SB2954 SD1   Firearms; Registration; Hawaii Criminal Justice Data Center; Database Management   
RELATING TO FIREARMS.   Authorizes the Hawaii criminal justice data center to access firearm registration data. (SD1)
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2954
S 2/26/2016: The committee(s) on JDL will hold a public decision making on 03-01-16 9:05AM in conference room 016.   

SB2955   Firearms; Background Checks; Permit; Permanent Resident Alien   
RELATING TO FIREARMS. Allows permanent resident aliens to receive a permit to acquire a firearm. Requires the issuing authority for firearms permits to perform an inquiry on an applicant using the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) including the Immigration and Customs Enforcement query in NLETS, National Crime Information Center (NCIC), National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Adds permanent resident aliens to required background checks. Clarifies requirements for permanent resident aliens to obtain a firearms permit.
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2955
S 2/26/2016: The committee(s) on JDL has scheduled a public hearing on 03-01-16 9:00AM in conference room 016.   

SB2956   Firearms; Mental Illness; Surrender of Firearms   
RELATING TO FIREARMS.   Requires firearm owners who have been disqualified from owning a firearm due to mental illness to immediately surrender their firearms to the chief of police upon notification and authorizes the chief of police to seize the firearms if the owner fails to comply.
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=2956
S 2/26/2016: The committee(s) on JDL will hold a public decision making on 03-01-16 9:05AM in conference room 016.   

HB2629 HD1   Criminal History Record Checks; Police; Permits to Acquire Firearms; Firearm Registration; Rapback System  
RELATING TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS.   Authorizes county police departments to enroll firearms applicants and individuals who are registering their firearms into a criminal record monitoring service used to alert police when an owner of a firearm is arrested for a criminal offense anywhere in the country. (HB2629 HD1)
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2629
H 2/26/2016: Bill scheduled to be heard by JUD on Tuesday, 03-01-16 2:00PM in House conference room 325.

HB2631   Firearms; Permits; Criminal History Record Checks; Rap Back System   
RELATING TO FIREARMS.   Amends the qualification requirements to allow lawful permanent residents to apply for a permit to acquire a firearm. Clarifies the background check process for firearm permit applicants and authorizes county police departments to enroll firearm permit applicants into a criminal record monitoring service.
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2631
H 2/26/2016: Bill scheduled to be heard by JUD on Tuesday, 03-01-16 2:00PM in House conference room 325.

HB625   Firearms Possession; Misdemeanor Stalking and Sexual Assault   
RELATING TO FIREARMS.   Includes misdemeanor stalking and sexual assault among the offenses that disqualify a person from owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition.
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=625
H 2/26/2016: Bill scheduled for decision making on Tuesday, 03-01-16 2:00PM in conference room 325.

HB626   Firearms; Possession While Consuming or Under the Influence of Intoxicants
RELATING TO THE POSSESSION OF FIREARMS WHILE CONSUMING OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN INTOXICANT.   Prohibits the physical possession of any firearm while consuming or under the influence of an intoxicant.
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=626
H 2/26/2016: The committee(s) on JUD recommend(s) that the measure be deferred until 03-01-16 2:05PM in room 325.   

Testimonies need to be in by Monday 2/29/2016 9:00am (JDL) and 2/29/2016 2:00pm (JUD)!

Tuesday would probably be a good one to show up in person en masse.

I will see what I can do to show up on this day to support our rights.  Hopefully I can make it!  Please attempt to do so as well folks!

submitted testimony opposing all of the bills.

I wasn't able to oppose bills HB625 & HB6626.  Anyone else have that problem?

How come some of the ones that were closed previously are now open to testimony again?

The bills that are scheduled for decision making are no longer taking testimonies.

done

Hawaii Rifle Association
State Affiliate of the National Rifle Association - Founded in 1857
February 28, 2016
 
Senator Keith-Agaran, Chair of the Hawaii Senate Judiciary Committee, will give decision on  SB2956  Tuesday March 1, 2016.
 
Senate rules provide that, since the bill was already heard in its first committee, Public Safety, and public testimony was taken, no public testimony is needed to pass the bill out of the Judiciary Committee Tuesday.  No testimony will be accepted.
 
State law provides that a person may be involuntarily committed to a mental hospital if they are a danger to self or others.   A police officer, a police psychologist, and an emergency room doctor can determine if such a hospitalization is necessary.  SB2956  requires the county police to immediately seize all firearms from any person so hospitalized.
 
Please e-mail or fax Senator Keith-Agaran something like this, fax: 808-586-7348 or
senkeithagaran@capitol.hawaii.gov  before Tuesday, 9am:
 
Dear Senator Keith-Agaran,
 
Please amend SB2956 to require court action before seizing guns as required under state mental health law: §334-61  Presumption; civil rights.  No presumption of insanity or legal incompetency shall exist with respect to any patient by reason of the patient’s admission to a psychiatric facility under this chapter.  The fact of the admission shall not in itself modify or vary any civil right of any such person, including but not limited to civil service statutes or rights relating to the granting, forfeiture, or denial of a license, permit, privilege, or benefit pursuant to any law, or the right to dispose of property, execute instruments, make purchases, enter into contractual relationships, and to vote.  If the administrator of a psychiatric facility or the deputy is of the opinion that a patient should not exercise any civil right, application for a show cause order shall be made to the court under the above proceedings after notice pursuant to section 334-60.4.
 
Very respectfully,
 
(your name)
                       
MAHALO,
HARVEY GERWIG, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON and PRESIDENT, HRA
 

Spreadsheet updated  3/3/2016 11:15am
Link to spreadsheet -> https://goo.gl/1kZGOI

I don't know guys... these a-holes are doing whatever they want despite testimonies in opposition. 

HB1813 HD1   Relating to Firearms; Terrorist Screening Database
RELATING TO FIREARMS.   Temporarily prohibits a person listed in the federal Terrorist Screening Database from owning, possessing, or controlling a firearm or ammunition. Requires surrender or disposal of firearms and ammunition. Allows for removal of the disqualification. (HB1813 HD1)
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=1813
H 3/3/2016: Reported from JUD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 720-16) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2/26/16 Testimonies in support: 7
2/26/16 Testimonies in opposition: 86

HB625 HD1   Firearms Possession; Misdemeanor Stalking and Sexual Assault   
RELATING TO FIREARMS.   Includes misdemeanor stalking and sexual assault among the offenses that disqualify a person from owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition. (HB625 HD1)
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=625
H 3/3/2016: Reported from JUD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 723-16) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.
2/25/16 Testimonies in support: 17
2/25/16 Testimonies in opposition: 24

HB626 HD1   Firearms; Possession While Consuming Alcohol   
RELATING TO THE POSSESSION OF FIREARMS WHILE CONSUMING OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN INTOXICANT.   Prohibits the actual physical possession of any firearm while consuming alcohol outside of the home, a temporary residence, or place of sojourn. Establishes violation as a petty misdemeanor. (HB626 HD1)
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=626
H 3/3/2016: Reported from JUD (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 724-16) as amended in HD 1, recommending passage on Second Reading and placement on the calendar for Third Reading.   
2/26/16 Testimonies in support: 8
2/26/16 Testimonies in opposition: 98

Spreadsheet updated  3/3/2016 11:15am
Link to spreadsheet -> https://goo.gl/1kZGOI

I don't know guys... these a-holes are doing whatever they want despite testimonies in opposition. 

Be great to know who else they are listening to (and taking orders from).  The peasants do not seem to matter to them at all.

How many of you have contacted KHON or KITV and demanded this be reported on?

Instead of sitting around and whining on 2a, how about you get pro-active and start contacting the media to bring some light on this.

I already contacted them several days ago, and I'm sure if more people bring this to light, they will eventually report on it.

Given the biases of most media outlets, including the local ones, I rather doubt that a few "commonsense gun safety regulations" are considered newsworthy. If anything, the angle would likely be along the lines of "The testimony received by the committee was 12 to one opposing the measure to keep firearms out of the hands of terrorists. We asked committee chairperson Karl Marx what could have caused so many gun nuts to come out of the woodwork." But it's worth a try. 

Given the biases of most media outlets, including the local ones, I rather doubt that a few "commonsense gun safety regulations" are considered newsworthy. If anything, the angle would likely be along the lines of "The testimony received by the committee was 12 to one opposing the measure to keep firearms out of the hands of terrorists. We asked committee chairperson Karl Marx what could have caused so many gun nuts to come out of the woodwork." But it's worth a try. 

The general focus shouldn't be related to 2a only.

The fact of the matter is that they are disregarding testimony submitted by the people that they represent, and are voting in their own interest.


Remember how everyone said that bill for term limits doesn't matter? Well guess what just got ignored and deferred, and pissed the senator who introduced it off:

http://www.senatorlaurathielen.com/survey-results/

The general focus shouldn't be related to 2a only.

The fact of the matter is that they are disregarding testimony submitted by the people that they represent, and are voting in their own interest.


Remember how everyone said that bill for term limits doesn't matter? Well guess what just got ignored and deferred, and pissed the senator who introduced it off:

http://www.senatorlaurathielen.com/survey-results/

In my testimony I pointed out that had that constitutional amendment been adopted it would have been, by far, the most lax, least restrictive "term limits" law in the United States... and still they wouldn't even consider it. Lucky we live Hawaii.

Senator Thielen wrote: "The Chair deferred the bill. I asked why, given the fact that he was recommending passage of other constitutional amendments that had only one or two testimonies in support.

He declined to answer and deferred the bill."

Yeah, "declined to answer". I get that a lot when I ask "my public servants" who supposedly act "with the consent of the governed" for the reasons and evidence for their support or opposition to a particular piece of legislation. They are not accountable in any way really, other than being caught in some outright criminal enterprise, and even then some of them get re-elected. Because this is all "business as usual" it's not really "newsworthy".

The committee chairs have far too much power, as one single individual has the power to kill a bill. Yet, there is absolutely no support for having some minimum requirement for support from x number of legislators to force a committee to hold a legitimate and fair hearing on a bill (see no hearings on any CCW reform for years...). In Florida the House passed, by overwhelming majorities both "open carry" and "campus carry" bills, and they would likely have passed in the Senate as well, but the "Republican" chair of the judiciary committee didn't want them to become law so he merely refused to hold hearings on either bill, and thus killed them. That's one man holding the entire state legislature and all the citizens of the state hostage. That's how the system works. Yes, there were a couple of stories written about it, but a few days later and it's back to "business as usual", with no proposed laws to change that obviously "undemocratic" parliamentary procedure in place.

What can we do?

Isnt there some way legal action can be brought to them on infringement of our rights?

Spreadsheet updated  3/11/2016 2:55pm
Link to spreadsheet -> https://goo.gl/1kZGOI

Senate PSM Committee is having a hearing on the anti-2a bills from the house.  Please send in testimonies before Monday 3/14/2016 1:20pm.  The senate is the only chance to kill these bills.

HB2629 HD2   Criminal History Record Checks; Police; Permits to Acquire Firearms; Firearm Registration; Rapback System
RELATING TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS.   Authorizes county police departments to enroll firearms applicants and individuals who are registering their firearms into a criminal record monitoring service used to alert police when an owner of a firearm is arrested for a criminal offense anywhere in the country. (HB2629 HD2)   Data sharing; Criminalization; Amendments Needed; Oppose
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2629
S 3/11/2016: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-15-16 1:20PM in conference room 229.

HB625 HD1   Firearms Possession; Misdemeanor Stalking and Sexual Assault
RELATING TO FIREARMS.   Includes misdemeanor stalking and sexual assault among the offenses that disqualify a person from owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition. (HB625 HD1)   Prohibition; Stalking; Sexual Assault; Confiscation; Misdemeanor stalking can mean unwelcomed texts; Oppose
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=625
S 3/11/2016: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-15-16 1:20PM in conference room 229.   

HB626 HD1   Firearms; Possession While Consuming Alcohol
RELATING TO THE POSSESSION OF FIREARMS WHILE CONSUMING OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN INTOXICANT.   Prohibits the actual physical possession of any firearm while consuming alcohol outside of the home, a temporary residence, or place of sojourn. Establishes violation as a petty misdemeanor. (HB626 HD1)   Possession; Alcohol; Oppose
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=626
S 3/11/2016: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-15-16 1:20PM in conference room 229.   

Spreadsheet updated  3/11/2016 2:55pm
Link to spreadsheet -> https://goo.gl/1kZGOI

Senate PSM Committee is having a hearing on the anti-2a bills from the house.  Please send in testimonies before Monday 3/14/2016 1:20pm.  The senate is the only chance to kill these bills.

HB2629 HD2   Criminal History Record Checks; Police; Permits to Acquire Firearms; Firearm Registration; Rapback System
RELATING TO CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD CHECKS.   Authorizes county police departments to enroll firearms applicants and individuals who are registering their firearms into a criminal record monitoring service used to alert police when an owner of a firearm is arrested for a criminal offense anywhere in the country. (HB2629 HD2)   Data sharing; Criminalization; Amendments Needed; Oppose
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=2629
S 3/11/2016: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-15-16 1:20PM in conference room 229.

HB625 HD1   Firearms Possession; Misdemeanor Stalking and Sexual Assault
RELATING TO FIREARMS.   Includes misdemeanor stalking and sexual assault among the offenses that disqualify a person from owning, possessing, or controlling any firearm or ammunition. (HB625 HD1)   Prohibition; Stalking; Sexual Assault; Confiscation; Misdemeanor stalking can mean unwelcomed texts; Oppose
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=625
S 3/11/2016: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-15-16 1:20PM in conference room 229.   

HB626 HD1   Firearms; Possession While Consuming Alcohol
RELATING TO THE POSSESSION OF FIREARMS WHILE CONSUMING OR UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF AN INTOXICANT.   Prohibits the actual physical possession of any firearm while consuming alcohol outside of the home, a temporary residence, or place of sojourn. Establishes violation as a petty misdemeanor. (HB626 HD1)   Possession; Alcohol; Oppose
Bill -> http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=HB&billnumber=626
S 3/11/2016: The committee(s) on PSM has scheduled a public hearing on 03-15-16 1:20PM in conference room 229.   

I am trying to figure out if an argument can be made that any of these are unconstitutional. I oppose the last two but if I can go, I want to take the unconstitutional argument with me as I think it will have more weight.

I'm not sure these guys understand what unconstitutional means.

What mostly gets the legislators' attention is how expensive something will be to implement.

I am trying to figure out if an argument can be made that any of these are unconstitutional. I oppose the last two but if I can go, I want to take the unconstitutional argument with me as I think it will have more weight.

As for HB625 and HB626 you could quote the first SCOTUS oral arguments comment in 10 years from Justice Thomas last week: "Can you give me another area where a misdemeanor violation suspends a constitutional right?" Of course that's not legal precedent but it does indicate that a Supreme Court justice is concerned about denial of Second Amendment rights due to misdemeanor convictions. Under these bills, sending an "unwanted" text message, or holding a beer will become crimes that deny an otherwise law-abiding citizen their natural/God-given individual enumerated Constitutionally-guaranteed civil right to keep and bear arms. They're going to pass those bills, whether they are unconstitutional or not, but you can try. Next year there will be a bill for firearm confiscation if you give someone a "look" they find "offensive", as that will be a "micro-agression" against their "safe space".

HB2629-
The law already requires that a convicted felon surrender all firearms or have them confiscated. Police departments have access to such knowledge and should be using such public databases to do their background checks and process. Thus, keeping weapons out of the hands of criminals. Databasing private firearms owners, who have no criminal record, nor conviction of felonious activities, should not be treated as a criminal. Logging and data basing, of law abiding citizens, on the grounds of 'being a gun owner' is a huge infringement of said law abiding citizen's privacy, is VERY unconstitutional. Please focus laws on catching, prosecuting, and punishing CRIMINALS, not the law abiding gun owners. I STRONGLY OPPOSE THIS LEGISLATION. Thank You

HB625-
I Oppose passage of this bill.
"Can you give me another area where a misdemeanor violation suspends a constitutional right?"
-Justice Thomas

Thank you

HB626-
Possession of a firearm outside the prescribed places is not permitted in any case, for the law abiding citizen, as permits to conceal or open carry firearms are NOT issued.

Is this law intended for Law Enforcement Officers, as these are the only persons permitted to carry firearms on their persons in public?

If the laws are changed where Law Abiding Citizens are issued permits to carry on their person, then a law like this is needed.  Otherwise the law is pointless, as a problem of this nature has not been encountered, other than law enforcement officers.

I OPPOSE as written and presented.  Vote to remove this bill from consideration.

Thank you.
Modify message

I am trying to figure out if an argument can be made that any of these are unconstitutional. I oppose the last two but if I can go, I want to take the unconstitutional argument with me as I think it will have more weight.

They changed the wording for the alcohol bill, however, IMO it is not needed.  When we are allowed to CCW then I may consider supporting something like this bill.

As for the others testimoniy above is how I feel.

No due process of law is unconstitutional.  One should be convicted of a actual crime BEFORE rights are removed. That is the whole point of the constitution and the spirit of freedom.  Arbitrary removal of rights is NOT constitutional.