If they never got trained in how to shoot a pistol correctly, they should take a pistol course over the hunters ed.  I'd be concerned about safety if HE is the only training they got.

And there lies the problem. HE should drop the cert, teach basic firearms only (actions, types, etc) and let the NRA instructors do the actual certification....

I think all they care is that you have the required topics including covering the law.

Rules and regs is a separate topic in the HE course. I fought against giving a cert by attending the HE course, gave testimony against it. Maybe you're rite that's all HPD cares about. It was wrong then and is still wrong now. Sorry... just a sensitive subject for me.... 

I think all they care is that you have the required topics including covering the law.

Here's what the statute says qualifies you to own a handgun if the training is NOT an NRA or military certified course:

(g)  Effective July 1, 1995, no person shall be issued a permit under this section for the acquisition of a pistol or revolver unless the person, at any time prior to the issuance of the permit, has completed:

     (1)  An approved hunter education course as authorized under section 183D-28;

     (2)  A firearms safety or training course or class available to the general public offered by a law enforcement agency of the State or of any county;

     (3)  A firearms safety or training course offered to law enforcement officers, security guards, investigators, deputy sheriffs, or any division or subdivision of law enforcement or security enforcement by a state or county law enforcement agency; or

And this is what the law says you must do to qualify to own a handgun if you take an NRA or military certified course:

(4)  A firearms training or safety course or class conducted by a state certified or National Rifle Association certified firearms instructor or a certified military firearms instructor
that provides, at a minimum, a total of at least two hours of firing training at a firing range and a total of at least four hours of classroom instruction, which may include a video, that focuses on:

          (A)  The safe use, handling, and storage of firearms and firearm safety in the home; and

          (B)  Education on the firearm laws of the State.

          An affidavit signed by the certified firearms instructor who conducted or taught the course, providing the name, address, and phone number of the instructor and attesting to the successful completion of the course by the applicant shall constitute evidence of certified successful completion under this paragraph.

I don't think just knowing the laws is their only concern.  If it is, it's not stated consistently in the law.

Yes, HPD accepts a hunter's ed certificate just like an NRA certified, state qualified hands-on course.  Don't try to make sense of it.  You'll fail! 

i am told this was created to have a free option
something about you shouldn't have to pay to exercise your second amendment rights

i am told this was created to have a free option
something about you shouldn't have to pay to exercise your second amendment rights

You shouldn't have to ask permission in any way at all to exercise your Second Amendment rights (Yeah, that includes bearing arms in public, openly or concealed). That is an unimaginable concept ("Blood in the streets!!") to the Hawaii authoritarian statists. And, as we can see from this thread, it appears to be unimaginable to most Hawaii firearms owners as well. 

I suggest taking a class that covers the laws and what u can and cannot do. Its worth the money. Every class has the following:
1) that guy who wants to be a hero (over zelous with a gun)
2) that guy who would shoot himself in the foot
3) that guy who is a know it all

But with that being said, u learn from these peoples mistakes or questions they ask.

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I suggest taking a class that covers the laws and what u can and cannot do. Its worth the money. Every class has the following:
1) that guy who wants to be a hero (over zelous with a gun)
2) that guy who would shoot himself in the foot
3) that guy who is a know it all

But with that being said, u learn from these peoples mistakes or questions they ask.

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There's at least one member of this forum that was 1,2,3 put together...


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There's at least one member of this forum that was 1,2,3 put together...


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Inquiring minds want to know ....   

aloha! my wife and i recently took both the Hunters Education course (at Nimitz) and hand gun safety course (from Prime Sports, which was $100 per person) and would highly recommend taking a handgun safety course, especially if they have no experience handling a firearm. Handgun safety course is very hands on. there is 4 hours of class room instruction, followed by a few hours of live fire range session at koko head shooting complex. you get to shoot several different brand and caliber hand guns. instructors are standing right beside you at all times when handling the firearm. there was NO HANDS ON WHAT SO EVER during the Hunters Education course.

Inquiring minds want to know ....   

That guy was prob the one who shot a hole in the table used in the HDF shoots.

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Here's what the statute says qualifies you to own a handgun if the training is NOT an NRA or military certified course:



And this is what the law says you must do to qualify to own a handgun if you take an NRA or military certified course:


I don't think just knowing the laws is their only concern.  If it is, it's not stated consistently in the law.

HE does not have  any range time so it's either not complying with HRS or, because it is a state run course, it's exempt.

i am told this was created to have a free option
something about you shouldn't have to pay to exercise your second amendment rights

Yup and all it's going to take is one person to get njured or killed by some idiot who attended the HE course and I guarantee it will be removed from the course or no longer accepted. You see two Distinguished Master Instructors and one Master Instructor (me) testified before the legislature NOT to accept the HE course as a means to gate a permit to acquire. We cited every legal aspect, including the lack of live firing and every conceivable liability concern ( oneof the Masters was a lawyer). The powers that be in charge of the HE course, DOFAW, DOCARE, who the HE program fell under, other instructors and DLNR pushed to have it accepted. Since they had the inside track, the "dissenters" lost the battle. It ate at all of us so much and created such a divide, I quit in 2007 after 20 years of service to the program. I guess it is what it is but I still advocate a certified NRA course an try to deter anyone from tattending the HE course for the sole purpose of getting HE card. 

HE does not have  any range time so it's either not complying with HRS or, because it is a state run course, it's exempt.

HE is exempt:

(g)  Effective July 1, 1995, no person shall be issued a permit under this section for the acquisition of a pistol or revolver unless the person, at any time prior to the issuance of the permit, has completed:
     (1)  An approved hunter education course as authorized under section 183D-28;

As far as a requirement to have a 2a right, I'm kinda torn.  On one side there shouldn't be a requirement to practice a right.  On the other I think public safety is a concern where training is needed.  A person without any firearms training is a danger to other people...they don't know the safety rules like keeping it pointed in a safe direction, check to see if unloaded, etc.  Id like to compare what the accident rate is in other states with constitutional carry/no training requirements versus State's that have requirements.

Yup and all it's going to take is one person to get njured or killed by some idiot who attended the HE course and I guarantee it will be removed from the course or no longer accepted. You see two Distinguished Master Instructors and one Master Instructor (me) testified before the legislature NOT to accept the HE course as a means to gate a permit to acquire. We cited every legal aspect, including the lack of live firing and every conceivable liability concern ( oneof the Masters was a lawyer). The powers that be in charge of the HE course, DOFAW, DOCARE, who the HE program fell under, other instructors and DLNR pushed to have it accepted. Since they had the inside track, the "dissenters" lost the battle. It ate at all of us so much and created such a divide, I quit in 2007 after 20 years of service to the program. I guess it is what it is but I still advocate a certified NRA course an try to deter anyone from tattending the HE course for the sole purpose of getting HE card. 

Other states have hands on training, and even live fire for their HE classes.  The hands on portion just have to cover safety like muzzle awareness, loading/unloading, etc.  It doesn't have to go over fundamentals, maintenance, and other stuff.  This is why we need a classroom and training bay built for them at Koko Head range.

As far as a requirement to have a 2a right, I'm kinda torn.  On one side there shouldn't be a requirement to practice a right.  On the other I think public safety is a concern where training is needed.  A person without any firearms training is a danger to other people...they don't know the safety rules like keeping it pointed in a safe direction, check to see if unloaded, etc. Id like to compare what the accident rate is in other states with constitutional carry/no training requirements versus State's that have requirements.

Just be sure you don't use studies by Wintemute, the Bloomberg School of Public Health, et. al, as those people make a career (literally) of demonstrating that "gunz bad" via (intentionally) poor methodology, statistical manipulation, cherry picking, etc. You could also look at the firearms "accident" rate in Hawaii and see the rate of those "accidents" committed by HE vs NRA class graduates. Which group do cops belong too? They are notorious for "accidental discharges", more properly "negligent discharges". I'm pretty sure the accident rate is the same for training required and no training required states, and that there is no causal relationship between the amount of training required and the firearm accident rate. But I haven't read up on that subject for a few years.

Here's an article by a firearms trainer who thinks training is a great idea, but when it comes to government-mandated training, his response: "I say no. Emphatically!" He claims he could find no correlation, much less causation, between training requirements and firearm injury rates.

http://www.ammoland.com/2014/06/mandatory-firearms-training/#axzz4YX5Utjmj

I say no to any further rules/regulations on our 2A rights
there's too many restrictions as it is now

so are you guys in favor of taking a class for purchase of long guns?
or in favor of more restrictions on our 2A rights?
I certainly am not.

I say no to any further rules/regulations on our 2A rights
there's too many restrictions as it is now

so are you guys in favor of taking a class for purchase of long guns?
or in favor of more restrictions on our 2A rights?
I certainly am not.

No but I am dead set against the HE Program making it possible to acquire a handgun without requiring range time, therefore the exemption should be dropped. If the HE program wants to cert for acquisition, then they will have to provide range time, period.
Yes we have rights and they are sacred to me BUT each of those rights carries a responsibility. It's all of our responsibility to ensure we are properly trained to use firearms safely and responsibly.

Look for some one to giventhe pistol class so my brother inlaw and his wife can get the affidavit so they can buy pistol let me know thanks 

My apologies for causing your post to be hijacked. Back to topic, please seek a certified NRA instructor. One you have completed the course, im sure you'll feel it was a great value and worth every penny spent. You'll also get to meet some great people, students and instructors alike. Good luck! 

So it's OK to purchase any long gun with no training?

So it's OK to purchase any long gun with no training?

Hey, come on, everyone knows that all the people who require state-mandated training because they are too stupid/ignorant/irresponsible/incompetent to operate a revolver safely have the intuitive knowledge and commonsense to operate those ARs and AKs (aka "battlefield weapons of war") perfectly safely WITHOUT state-mandated training. I'm sure all the advocates of "mandated safety training" all are over their legislators begging for increased restrictions and requirements, including mandated "training", you know, "for the children".