Went to HPD today to register a firearm.

I cleared my gun in the bin and handed it to the officer registering it for me.

We started talking about how many people actually use the bin to clear firearms and ensure they're safe.

He told me that almost every day someone flags other people or even clears their firearm pointing directly at the window.

I've personally seen people flagging everyone in the room with their guns.

So what happens to gun safety while at HPD?

Do people just forget while there?

Is this the newbs?

Its making all the gun owners look bad.

A long time ago some guy brought in his pistol with 2 mags fully loaded.  The Officer at the counter flipped out!

Followed by a long lecture.  Worse yet the guy was a cadet....So he was not allowed to carry yet.

All of us in line were chuckling......LOL

I must admit I don't use the bin to clear the firearms.  I point the barrel at the ground in front of the concrete divider wall.

I don't use the bins.

I used the bin, but only because the gent before me did the same.

The bin makes sense, but if you're not going to use the bin, please for the love of God, don't flag me.

I got serious getting flagged with firearms issues.

Haha, I've walked out of gun stores because someone was flagging every single person there.

I'm sure any knowledgeable person (about guns) hates having a gun pointed at them.

I cleared my gun before I left the house and put the red... uh, thingy... in the chamber sticking out so there could be no mistaking that the gun was safe.

Thinking back, though... the way the office is set up in Hilo its hard not to point the thing at someone the way my case is aimed. At least while its in the case. I didn't take it out of the case, though, so its not like there was a gun waving around. I let Arlene take it out of the case if she wanted to... and she didn't need to.

Another reason I didn't use the bin: a gun locked in its case is probably less visibly threatening than a gun in hand at the clearing bin.

With the levergun I opened the action as I took it out of the case and left it open. The long gun station is pretty simple in Hilo. Easy to point the gun in a safe direction.

I dont even know what the bin is for and all the times ive been there ive only seen 1 person use it.  I guess a experienced person would know how to use it, but for new guys like me i have no idea.  When i go down i just rack it a few times then open the slide and hand it over.  Not sure if that is correct or not.


Sometimes the officers can come across as dicks though.  Or maybe just that HPD personality.  Doesnt mean they should be getting flagged by everyone trying to clear their gun though. 

I dont even know what the bin is for and all the times ive been there ive only seen 1 person use it.  I guess a experienced person would know how to use it, but for new guys like me i have no idea.  When i go down i just rack it a few times then open the slide and hand it over.  Not sure if that is correct or not.


Sometimes the officers can come across as dicks though.  Or maybe just that HPD personality.  Doesnt mean they should be getting flagged by everyone trying to clear their gun though.

You are supposed to place the muzzle of your firearm in the "bin" when you make it clear and safe. The "bin"  will catch a discharged round in the event that a negligent discharge should occur. 

It will not, however save your eardrums should a firearm go off....

^^^I know what the bin is for. I just haven't used it.  Lazy of me.

Anyhow what you do is just point the barrel inside of the bin and clear it.  That's how it's used.

I'm like clshade I have my gun cleared and a lock placed in it before I go down to the station to register.  Part of it for it to just be prepared and if it is crowded to not have to jockey around everyone and their stuff.

I'm like clshade I have my gun cleared and a lock placed in it before I go down to the station to register.  Part of it for it to just be prepared and if it is crowded to not have to jockey around everyone and their stuff.

This..  most times it's too crowded to use the bin with a longgun.  I leave all mags at home or in the car.  Don't want any unwanted questions.

Quote from: bass monkey on December 23, 2011, 07:30:48 AM

I dont even know what the bin is for and all the times ive been there ive only seen 1 person use it.  I guess a experienced person would know how to use it, but for new guys like me i have no idea.  When i go down i just rack it a few times then open the slide and hand it over.  Not sure if that is correct or not.


Sometimes the officers can come across as dicks though.  Or maybe just that HPD personality.  Doesnt mean they should be getting flagged by everyone trying to clear their gun though.

You are supposed to place the muzzle of your firearm in the "bin" when you make it clear and safe. The "bin"  will catch a discharged round in the event that a negligent discharge should occur. 

It will not, however save your eardrums should a firearm go off....

Would someone please make the Firearms Unit a sign with directions how to use the clearing bin. Some folks think it's a trash can    I've seen people flag the officers, look at their pistol and dry fire it at the window   

Kauai doesn't have any clearing bins, and they don't tell you, you have to clear the weapon. Which is really strange.

Why do you need to clear your firearm? Can't you just drop the mag, lock the bolt/slide back, and hand it to the officers? Or open the cylinder and hand it to them?

Why do you need to clear your firearm? Can't you just drop the mag, lock the bolt/slide back, and hand it to the officers? Or open the cylinder and hand it to them?

That is clearing the firearm.

Quote from: 2aHawaii on January 02, 2012, 04:10:40 AM

Why do you need to clear your firearm? Can't you just drop the mag, lock the bolt/slide back, and hand it to the officers? Or open the cylinder and hand it to them?

That is clearing the firearm.

Haha, again, that is clearing the firearm.
People hand guns to the officers with a magazine in, bolt or slide in battery and pointing at the window.

I meant, why do you need to use the box.

Personally, I've only seen one person use it and it was only when he pulled the trigger.

The point is to not flag people with your muzzle.

Whether its in the box or not.

The reality is that in that concrete room if you have a ND anywhere but in the box, someone is going to be hurt.

Quote from: 2aHawaii on January 02, 2012, 10:38:47 AM

I meant, why do you need to use the box.

Personally, I've only seen one person use it and it was only when he pulled the trigger.

The point is to not flag people with your muzzle.

Whether its in the box or not.

The reality is that in that concrete room if you have a ND anywhere but in the box, someone is going to be hurt.

Yup the splash or ricochet from the concrete walls means someone is catching something (except the LEOs behind the "glass".