Hmmm....got a response...hope I don't get a knock on the door with a battering ram at 3am
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Thank you for taking the time to inform me about your concern regarding the appointment-only system used when applying for a permit to acquire firearms in Honolulu.
My office has taken follow-up action on your behalf and your request for assistance has been referred to the appropriate City department. We will get back to you when we receive a response.
Mahalo again for your input. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further assistance.
Very sincerely yours,
Council Chair Emeritus Ron Menor
Council District 9
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My original email
Aloha Gov. Ige, Mayor Caldwell, Senators, Representatives, Legislators and Officials
As we all know the COVID-19 pandemic has created numerous issues for all of us living and working in Hawaii. As such, the appointment based process put into place by the Honolulu Police Department, while I am sure well intentioned, has created a Constitutional problem for the citizens in the State, specifically on O’ahu. Currently the citizens of O’ahu are UNABLE to even apply to obtain a permit to acquire a firearm due to no available appointments for the next 3 months or farther based on the results on the HPD Firearms Dept webpage (
http://www.honolulupd.org/information/index.php?page=gunmain). This is a deprivation of rights under the color of law. Based on this information, I am asking for the Governor and Mayor to order the Honolulu Police Department to immediately suspend the appointment based system and allow the Hawaii based Federal Firearms Licensees to perform the background checks using the ATF Form 4473 and/or the current HPD forms and contacting the appropriate Authority Having Jurisdiction. Numerous other states with waiting periods have proved that the background check system CAN and DOES work even with a waiting period. California, our closest neighbor in the 9th Circuit imposes a 10 day waiting period on all firearm purchases and all Private Party transfers must be done through a Federal Firearms Licensee. Hawaii FFLs can contact the HPD or other County Police departments or through the States Attorney Generals Office which performs background checks (
https://ag.hawaii.gov/hcjdc/criminal-history-records-check/) to perform the background check as is required by State and Federal laws. Hawaii can perform this as well and better than other States, showing the other States we are more than capable and first in upholding the Constitutional Rights of our residents.
By moving the process out to the FFLs, this will free up officer time in the Firearms Permit Unit to address their workload and abilities. Also, in light of the Yukutake et. al. V. Conners suit being settled, this would be a huge positive movement in publicity for the State and HPD in regards to Civil Rights and the upholding of Constitutional Rights of both the State of Hawaii and the United States.
We, as residents of the State of Hawaii and respective Counties, know that you as our elected officials value the oath you have taken to uphold the Constitutional obligations as set forth when you took office. We know that if this was a problem with our abilities to vote, the problem would be addressed immediately. And regardless of views, we now have 100% mail-in voting in Hawaii. Should we not have the same and equal ability to exercise our right to bear arms as the right to vote?
Mahalo for your kokua in addressing an issue which is directly affecting the Constitutional rights of the residents of Hawaii.
ʻAʻohe hana nui ke alu ‘ia (No task is too big when done together by all)
Mahalo nui loa