Do you think Espero would honor his word that he would welcome another meeting with our group?

Would he be willing to sponsor and introduce some pro-gun bills?

1. Change may issue to shall issue?

2. Funding for gun safety education to reduce accidents?

3. Gun range improvements?

I say it is worth a try. He did say already though that he was going to wait for the Baker case to go through so I think he would just kick the can down the road for now.

I don't understand people that own firearms and are anti-2A, unless they are politicians
I hate fence walkers. but they are perfect for politics.

I wouldn't characterize him as anti 2A, unless he is lying about owning a gun. He thinks it can and should be regulated more than we do but I don't assume he is completely anti guns.

I figure that as a politician he is always walking the line to try and not offend too many in any direction. To seek re-election you kind of have to do that. I don't know exactly where he stands since I don't know him personally and I cannot read his mind, but this is just my estimation from what I saw in the meeting.

Do we even see this much dialogue from anyone else in out state government?

The only way to deal with Will Espero is to get him out of office and support his opponent.

+1 !!

I believe what he does, not what he says
he is anti-2A. and a bad politician. he should GTFO!

Don't forget that WE was going to have a gun control meeting until we showed up.

Don't forget that WE was going to have a gun control meeting until we showed up.

exactly!
let's wait and see if this meeting with other senators takes place
until then...

I wouldn't characterize him as anti 2A, unless he is lying about owning a gun. He thinks it can and should be regulated more than we do but I don't assume he is completely anti guns.

Look at his FB pages.  Seems very proud of his anti gun bills, and there are lots of them.

The right to protect ourselves in public was also one of those "longstanding" constitutional rights as well.

That's why individuals have to decide whether they want to follow the law and potentially jeopardize the safety of themselves and their families.

Espero will not be providing any help of any kind on this issue. Unless you count mealy-mouthed weasel words set against a long history of anti-rights actions as "help".

It appears that his opponents in the 2016 race are (or were):

Kurt Fevella
Chris Fidelibus

Senate District 19 is way beyond my district, however, I have to believe that there are many here and in the shooting community that live in that district.  From my conversations with a couple of member of the RRB and HPS, those that know of him really don't like him (putting it mildly).  I would be willing to bet that it wouldn't be difficult to mobilize many to support his opponents in light of his recent pushing and passing anti-gun legislation.  Frankly, it might not be enough to oust him, but I would hope that it would get his attention. 

I wouldn't characterize him as anti 2A, unless he is lying about owning a gun. He thinks it can and should be regulated more than we do but I don't assume he is completely anti guns.

I figure that as a politician he is always walking the line to try and not offend too many in any direction. To seek re-election you kind of have to do that. I don't know exactly where he stands since I don't know him personally and I cannot read his mind, but this is just my estimation from what I saw in the meeting.

Do we even see this much dialogue from anyone else in out state government?

You seem to have decided "anti 2A" is synonymous with "anti gun".  Not true.

"2A" means the right to keep and bear arms with minimal restrictions on WHO may own WHAT.  Trying to ban types of rifles based on cosmetics or their being used in a very small percentage of gun-related crimes is anti 2A.

"Anti gun" -- I'd have to say not if he truly owns a gun, shoots it regularly, and actually picked it and bought it himself.

I would classify him as anti 2A, with a borderline leaning toward anti gun.

I'm sorry, but I don't see why we are trying to "work" with dude after the fact he put up and rammed through these bills even though he doesn't even know what they are about!  No matter if they are unconstitutional or illegal or what.

Why work with him ? Same reason i will go to any senator who says they want to do something about gun control,

In this case, Next time there is a accidental shooting of a kid and the media is making a big deal about it i can now turn round and say  I asked senator Espero to help fund cont safety for children and he told me NO because its to hard,   Now does the gun community look bad or does the senator ?.

Sure it would be great to have all Pro 2a senators and Representatives but its not going to happen, Hawaii is a very liberal state, The only way we can control the gun control laws is making it look like WE are doing something. There is no consequence to them violating our rights, They dont care how much we sue its not there money they are losing its ours.

You seem to have decided "anti 2A" is synonymous with "anti gun".  Not true.

"2A" means the right to keep and bear arms with minimal restrictions on WHO may own WHAT.  Trying to ban types of rifles based on cosmetics or their being used in a very small percentage of gun-related crimes is anti 2A.

"Anti gun" -- I'd have to say not if he truly owns a gun, shoots it regularly, and actually picked it and bought it himself.

I would classify him as anti 2A, with a borderline leaning toward anti gun.

A fair distinction perhaps.

I think in his mind though he thinks he is within the 2nd amendment to put in place the restrictions or regulations he proposes. We can disagree of course but that leads into a separate topic of legal interpretation of the 2nd amendment of course but a different interpretation isn't the same thing as anti 2A. Who knows though, he may actually want to revoke the 2nd amendment.

He says he owns a firearm, that is a start. How many other legislators own firearms?

Why work with him ? Same reason i will go to any senator who says they want to do something about gun control,

In this case, Next time there is a accidental shooting of a kid and the media is making a big deal about it i can now turn round and say  I asked senator Espero to help fund cont safety for children and he told me NO because its to hard,   Now does the gun community look bad or does the senator ?.

Sure it would be great to have all Pro 2a senators and Representatives but its not going to happen, Hawaii is a very liberal state, The only way we can control the gun control laws is making it look like WE are doing something. There is no consequence to them violating our rights, They dont care how much we sue its not there money they are losing its ours.

That is all well and good.  However, we all tried to (before all these bills where passed) reason with him about how and why these bills are not useful for stopping gun violence, helping with gun safety, and illegal to implement.  There were hundreds of opposition testimony was submitted showing that many of us opposed the bills, many of the testimony pointing out the many factors of why they will not work for their intended purpose, yet he and others rammed them through anyway.  It is doubtful he and the others even read or considered the testimony.

If he wasn't up for re-election this Nov, he wouldn't give a rats about us or our suggestions.  He doesn't care about gun safety nor self defense.   He is trying to pander to us with the illusion he is now taking a more centered approach.  That way he doesn't alienate his base and at the same time, maybe keep his pro 2A voters. 

I don't believe Hawaii is as liberal as you think.  There are some very vocal liberals and fewer vocal conservatives.  Most people are more conservative than liberal in practice, the problem is most people do not vote, and if they do vote they let others, with their own interest in mind, decide who gets voted for.

It appears that his opponents in the 2016 race are (or were):

Kurt Fevella
Chris Fidelibus

Senate District 19 is way beyond my district, however, I have to believe that there are many here and in the shooting community that live in that district.  From my conversations with a couple of member of the RRB and HPS, those that know of him really don't like him (putting it mildly).  I would be willing to bet that it wouldn't be difficult to mobilize many to support his opponents in light of his recent pushing and passing anti-gun legislation.  Frankly, it might not be enough to oust him, but I would hope that it would get his attention. 

I attempted contact with Kurt Fevella to take a stance, he has not responded.  He is not very popular among local Ewa Beachians and doubt he would have much support from them.  I cannot find any contact info for Chris Fidelibus, election wise.  Does anyone know?

A fair distinction perhaps.

I think in his mind though he thinks he is within the 2nd amendment to put in place the restrictions or regulations he proposes. We can disagree of course but that leads into a separate topic of legal interpretation of the 2nd amendment of course but a different interpretation isn't the same thing as anti 2A. Who knows though, he may actually want to revoke the 2nd amendment.

He says he owns a firearm, that is a start. How many other legislators own firearms?

I have dealt with Espero for many years now. The last time I talked to him about his firearm, a small pistol by his description, he didn't even know where it was because he said it was being stored at someone's home.

He is anti-gun and anti-2A. I can't say it any more plainly. How to deal with him? Get someone else elected. He thinks he's invincible and can do what ever he wants....he needs to find out that's not the case and loosing his seat is the only definitive way to send him the appropriate message.

  There were hundreds of opposition testimony was submitted showing that many of us opposed the bills, many of the testimony pointing out the many factors of why they will not work for their intended purpose, yet he and others rammed them through anyway.  It is doubtful he and the others even read or considered the testimony.

I've posted before about an incident several years ago during a committee hearing that Espero chaired. He began reading the names of citizens who had submitted testimony opposing the second gun control bill the committee was considering that day. As he got about 4 or 5 names into the list he laughed as he made a remark to the effect of "Haha. I think I've seen these names before." As if those people are the "gun nuts" and are the "usual suspects" and perhaps can be discounted... otherwise, why is it funny? I wonder if he ever did the same thing during any committee hearing listing the names of those submitting testimony in support of same-sex marriage?

I have dealt with Espero for many years now. The last time I talked to him about his firearm, a small pistol by his description, he didn't even know where it was because he said it was being stored at someone's home.

He is anti-gun and anti-2A. I can't say it any more plainly. How to deal with him? Get someone else elected. He thinks he's invincible and can do what ever he wants....he needs to find out that's not the case and loosing his seat is the only definitive way to send him the appropriate message.

totally agree with you.  he needs to be gone!

Totally agree with what you said.  I saw that tremble too.

While he said that "no one is going after your guns", he clearly believes that it should be regulated.  "We have car registrations and annual inspections every year." were his words.  Someone chimed in and said that unlike car ownership, gun ownership is a constitutional right.

You do not have to register a car as property.    You register the car to drive.  That is not an argument at all.

You do not have to register a car as property.    You register the car to drive.  That is not an argument at all.

Unless I'm mistaken, the only reason a car is registered is because it is property.  In some states or counties, they charge property taxes on the value of the car.  Here, you pay by the weight, type and use of the vehicle so the state can tax you:

Vehicle Registration Fees in Hawaii

Vehicle registration fees in Hawaii are based upon your county of residence, vehicle weight, plus taxes and other county/state fees.

You will need to contact your motor vehicle registration office to find out exactly how much you will owe.

Below are some example registration fees for Hawaii County:

    State fee: $45.
    County fee: $12.
    Transfer fee: $5.
    State weight tax:
        0 to 4,000 lbs.: 1.75 cents per lbs.
        4,001 to 7,000 lbs.: 2 cents per lbs.
        7,001 to 10,000 lbs.: 2.25 cents per lbs.
        Over 10,001 lbs.: $300 flat rate.
    County weight tax:
        Passenger vehicles & trucks up to 6,500 lbs.: 1.25 cents per lb. (minimum of $12).
        All vehicles over 6,500 lbs.: 2.5 cents per lbs.
    Beautification fee: $1.
    Sticker renewal/replacement: $0.50.
    Plate replacement: $5.
    Duplicate registration: $5

Didn't see anything about "driving tax".

Title conveys ownership.  You don't have to register a car if you only use it on private property.

Registration identifies legally bound registered operator for financial and legal obligations.  If you hit someone, the driver and registered owner (not always the same) can be held financially liable for any damages or injuries.

I'm not sure what point you were trying to make, but I wanted to make sure we have our facts straight.   

I sent Mr. Esepro an email as a military member.

I can unregister my car - check
I can unregister my bike - check
I can unregister my pet - check

I cannot unregister my gun.