Got this from HRA; I just can't understand that more gun owners could not take the time to write and submit testimony or letters. Thanks to those that did and shame on you who did not.

State Affiliate of the National Rifle Association - Founded in 1857
 
April 11, 2016
 The message received by Senators and Representatives is that gun owners don't have a problem with their rights being reduced.  With the thousands of gun owners in the state, only a few submitted testimony or contacted their legislators in opposition to these bills.  Less than 100 testimonies opposing each bill was submitted, that's less than 1% of all gun owners in Hawaii.  If gun owners continue to be apathetic in a State with some of the most restrictive gun laws, expect to see more of your rights being taken away.
 
HB 625 - Misdemeanor harrassment disqualifies a person from owning, possessing, or controlling a gun
 
HB 2629 - Rap Back
 
HB 2632 - Emergency Hospitalization results in immediate removal of all firearms
 
MAHALO
 
HARVEY GERWIG, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON and PRESIDENT, HRA
 
EMAIL:  HGHAWAII@GMAIL.COM,    PHONE:  (808) 306-7194
 

I'm actually a little pist off reading this, blaming gun owners for representatives removing/violating their rights is not something I would e pet from an organization that is mean to be working for/with us.

The majority of the testimonies that have been submitted over the last few weeks has been In Opposition, usually in the 3-4 to 1 ratio. The representatives just purely ignore it even if we had 100% of gun owners submit testimony they would still vote for these bills,

I don't think many gun owners knew about bills going through legislature.

I don't agree, but did share.  Blaming the base is not a good strategy for success, especially when we are not to blame for the idiocy,    IMO

WE ALL have a lot of work to do.

There was no guarantee that no matter how many testimonies were provided that these scumbag politicians would have changed their vote in any way, shape, form or manner. Blaming the base for our loss of freedom will only distance the base from the leadership IMHO. 

There was no guarantee that no matter how many testimonies were provided that these scumbag politicians would have changed their vote in any way, shape, form or manner. Blaming the base for our loss of freedom will only distance the base from the leadership IMHO. 

You consider HRA leadership?

You consider HRA leadership?

I consider Harvey et al as the leaders of the HRA.

There is no amount of testimony that would have changed the minds of these Leftist idiots and to think so is in my opinion, naive.  As happy as I am that Sam Slom is my senator and I never have to worry about how he's going to vote, he is but a single man pushing against the ocean of shit that is our Senate.  There were a total of 4 votes of No for all three bills, Senator Slom would have brought that number up to 7.  At the end of the day I'll just buy more ammo and carry the fuck on.

until they pass a law about ammo 
I get updates on Cali laws and they got it bad - and unfortunately for us we are headed that way as well

until they pass a law about ammo 
I get updates on Cali laws and they got it bad - and unfortunately for us we are headed that way as well

Several years ago the New York "SAFE Act" (passed during an "emergency session" with no notice or testimony, etc.right after the Newtown Sandy Hook school shootings) required (among other inane things (seven (7) round mag limit, etc.)) a background check to purchase ammunition. As of this date that has not been implemented because the state police, tasked with implementing the requirement, haven't figured out a way to do it or pay for it. California will face the same problem if Newsom's "Safety for All" initiative gets on the ballot and passes. California can't even afford to keep convicted felons in prison, how are they going to pay for the system to run a background check for every box of ammo bought? Oh, that's right, taxes and "fees". I'm afraid our legislators are just ignorant enough to attempt to pull off the same thing here, and tax/fee us all for doing so. I know I'll be sending in my testimony so they can make a decision based upon the "consent of the governed" and a rational evaluation of the evidence... oh, wait, never mind. 

I'm very tempted to write something about the HRA and their "strategy", but I'm not going to.

I'm actually a little pist off reading this, blaming gun owners for representatives removing/violating their rights is not something I would e pet from an organization that is mean to be working for/with us.

The majority of the testimonies that have been submitted over the last few weeks has been In Opposition, usually in the 3-4 to 1 ratio. The representatives just purely ignore it even if we had 100% of gun owners submit testimony they would still vote for these bills,

Not only that - it doesn't help when those legislators we would call our allies don't even bother to show up to some of the votes.....I looked at the voting history of some of these bills and a number of supposedly 2A friendly legislators didn't even bother to show up.  If we're going to continue to submit testimony I'd expect our "allied" legislators would show up to the hearing to vote at the minimum.  Maybe HRA would consider funding a full time lobbyist? 

I'm actually a little pist off reading this, blaming gun owners for representatives removing/violating their rights is not something I would e pet from an organization that is mean to be working for/with us.

The majority of the testimonies that have been submitted over the last few weeks has been In Opposition, usually in the 3-4 to 1 ratio. The representatives just purely ignore it even if we had 100% of gun owners submit testimony they would still vote for these bills,

Wrong. Politics is about getting re-elected. Numbers matter. If a big enough voting block can threaten a politician's chances of getting elected they can force them to vote in a manner to appease that voting block. And, it's not about ratios, either. Who cares if it's 3:1 or if all the testimony is in opposition if the total number is so low as not present a threat to their re-election.
How many gun owners do you think are in Hawaii? Just to be conservative let's say there are 5,000. If the committee got 5,000 pieces of testimony I guarantee that would be looked at much differently than 40 and that it would much more likely sway legislators toward "our" position. This is easily demonstrated by looking at the response of the legislators when they tried to revoke the limited liability for NRA instructors. There were hundreds of pieces of testimony sent in and gun owners filled the hearing rooms. Guess what happened?
The other issue is money. How many gun owners contributed to the Hawaii Citizen's Rights PAC? Politics are driven by contributions. Like it or not, that's the way it is. HCR-PAC contributes to friendly legislators every year but the amount is limited due to relatively low levels of contributions.
So, get pissed. The reality is that Hawaii's gun owners are to blame for these bills passing. Not the ones that sent in or contacted their legislators, but all the ones that didn't. I'll bet you any amount of money that if we go down to the range on Saturday or Sunday and poll those shooting to see if they sent in testimony or called their legislators, the vast majority didn't. The folks that decided it was more important to enjoy themselves rather than participate in the process are to blame. Those folks who belong to various clubs and other organizations that did not make encouraging their members to participate a priority at their meetings or gatherings, are to blame.

I am disappointed in some of the comments regarding the HRA response to the passing of these bad bills.

While I agree that our legislators and representatives do whatever the hell they want (because they know they will still get re-elected) regardless of the peoples will, I disagree with the many gun owners that feel that it's pointless to get involved.

There is strength in numbers, especially if they are united. While it may not seem to make a difference the more people that get involved the more chance we have to show that we are united and a big voting block.
Remember what happened with the van cams?  When the people banded together and got pissed off the legislators and representatives capitulated.

Remember:
United we stand, divided we fall.
This is why I have advocated for everyone to join HRA , HDF & NRA. Organizations that look out and fight for our 2A rights, but they can't do it without our help.

JMO

I don't think many gun owners knew about bills going through legislature.

You are probably right, but that's not because information wasn't being sent out...it was because the majority of Hawaii gun owners are apathetic and uninvolved.

I don't agree, but did share.  Blaming the base is not a good strategy for success, especially when we are not to blame for the idiocy,    IMO

WE ALL have a lot of work to do.

The problem is that not ALL of us work...and that is glaringly obvious by the pitiful response we saw this year. So, if not realistically identifying the issue (the vast majority of Hawaii's gun owners do not participate and are apathetic) what is the solution?

You consider HRA leadership?

You are welcome to step up and demonstrate your leadership abilities any time....

Taking an apathetic approach will guarantee loss of rights. Having a large block of voters opposing any issue will cause even the most steadfast of anti-gun to take notice.
Prime example is the nation wide resistance to the attempt by the ATF to outlaw "greentips" by redefining AP. It failed. This was accomplished by a prodigious amount  of dissenting testimonies submitted by gun owners and industry working together.

NRA-ILA provides pre-written letters that only need a bit of mouse movement and clicks to send. You can even copy and paste to the HI.gov testimony page.
GOA does this also more on a national venue.
https://act.nraila.org
HRA and NRA may not be perfect but they provide a much louder voice than any one individual. Get involved and direct any concerns of organizational direction to the leadership.

Be proactive, not inactive
 

I don't think many gun owners knew about bills going through legislature.

What I think as well.

The 2AHawaii crew are far more connected than the LIV drones out there even though they may be firearm owners.  Most are content to keep grazing as long as nothing spooks them directly.

WE'RE NOT DONE YET!!!  Over a thousand messages were sent to legislators asking them to oppose the anti-gun bills moving in the legislature.  We need to continue the push and let them know WE VOTE and we are asking them to OPPOSE these bills because they are flawed and unconstitutional.  Attached is a link to the NRA alert, where you can click on the TAKE ACTION button and letters will be sent on your behalf to your legislators.  You can email all representatives with reps@capitol.hawaii.gov and all senators at sens@capitol.hawaii.gov.  You should ALSO email AND call your district legislator and let them hear your concerns.  We can do this, but WE MUST STAND TOGETHER!!!
 
Link to the NRA alert:
https://www.nraila.org/articles/20160413/hawaii-four-anti-gun-bills-pass-floor-vote
 
 
HB 625 - Misdemeanor harrassment disqualifies a person from owning, possessing, or controlling a gun
 
HB 2629 and SB 2954 - Rap Back
 
HB 2632 - Emergency Hospitalization results in immediate removal of all firearms
 
SB 2647 - Ban on ivory sale, purchase, barter and possession
 
MAHALO
 
HARVEY GERWIG, LEGISLATIVE LIAISON and PRESIDENT, HRA
 
EMAIL:  HGHAWAII@GMAIL.COM,    PHONE:  (808) 306-7194
 
 

The problem is that not ALL of us work...and that is glaringly obvious by the pitiful response we saw this year. So, if not realistically identifying the issue (the vast majority of Hawaii's gun owners do not participate and are apathetic) what is the solution?

Working on new ideas, hopefully to be successful. Only thing to do now is forge on and move forward.