Well the hearing notice is now out and is set to be heard by the JUD committee on THIS Thursday, March 25th. This time around, instead of emailing the reps, you can submit public testimony online and by email. I know this is a long and tedius process, but it is part what we have to do to gain our freedoms back. If you have any more information, or have suggestions for additions to testimony, please do share.

Here is the hearing notice: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2010/hearingnotices/HEARING_JUD_03-25-10_.HTM

The rules for submitting testomony are as follows:

Persons wishing to offer comments should submit testimony at least 24 hours prior to the hearing with a transmittal cover indicating:
·     Testifier's name with position/title and organization;
·     The Committee the comments are directed to;
·     The date and time of the hearing;
·     Measure number; and
·     The number of copies the Committee is requesting. 

While every effort will be made to copy, organize, and collate all testimony received, materials received on the day of the hearing or improperly identified or directed to the incorrect office, may be distributed to the Committee after the hearing.

Submit testimony in ONE of the following ways:
PAPER:  one copy (including an original) to Room 302 in the State Capitol;
FAX:       For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to 586-8494 (for Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859 (for Neighbor Islanders without a computer to submit testimony through e-mail or the Web);
EMAIL: For comments less than 5 pages in length, transmit to JUDtestimony@Capitol.hawaii.gov ; or
WEB:     For comments less than 4MB in size, transmit from the Web page at http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/emailtestimony.

Testimony submitted will be placed on the Legislative Web site after the hearing adjourns.  This public posting of testimony on the Web site should be considered when including personal information in your testimony.

Once again, thank you all for your help.

Oh, if you guys need ideas for what to write, there has been a whole bunch already submitted on the testimony page.

The NRA will probably be sending out an alert about this...we really need to get a lot of testimony in so we can show the committee that it's not just a few folks advocating for this. I havn't been able to put anything together for a template of sorts due to my schedule, but there is lots of good testimony that was previously submitted and that can be used a a template of sorts.
 
As a suggestion, I would try to include something about how the recent tsunami scare relates to all of this. Additional points to try an fit into your testimony could be the Katrina seizures and how despite those seizures the "bad guys" were still able to get/have guns; potential for civil unrest and the "authorities" inability to respond so prepared, law abiding citizens would need to be able to protect themselves; the large number of States that passed similar laws; The Federal law passed after Katrina that also forbids seizure of firearms by Federal troops; and even any comments about how in Katrina armed citizens were able to defend their property and others and did not hamper law enforcement effort despite what General Lee said in his testimony against this bill last year.
 
If I get the chance to write up something before the hearing, I'll post it here......
 
Again, we need lots of testimony......

Testimony sent.

The NRA sent out their alert

Last week Senate Bill 358 (SD1) unanimously passed out of the House Public Safety Committee with our amendment recommending the removal of the provision that related to compulsory blood identification.  SD358 now heads to House Judiciary Committee where it will be heard tomorrow, March 25 at 2:45 p.m. in House conference room 325.

SB 358 would prohibit a person or government entity from seizing any firearm or ammunition under civil defense, emergency, or disaster relief powers, or during any time of national emergency or crisis, from any individual who is lawfully permitted to possess the firearm or ammunition.  The most recent tsunami scare was a wake-up call to all Hawaii gun owners that protection from confiscation must be a top priority this legislative session. Though imperfect, it is a step in the right direction for Hawaii’s gun-owners. 

Please take the time to contact the members of the House Judiciary Committee TODAY and ask that they move the issue forward - its success depends on you making the effort!

House Judiciary Committee

Jon Riki Karamatsu, Chair         
(808) 586-8490       
repkaramatsu@capitol.hawaii.gov

Ken Ito, Vice-Chair                             
586-8470     
repito@capitol.hawaii.gov

Della Au Bellatti                                 
586-9425     
repbelatti@capitol.hawaii.gov

Rida Cabanilla                                     
586-6080     
repcabanilla@capitol.hawaii.gov

Mele Carroll                                       
586-6790     
repcarroll@capitol.hawaii.gov

Robert Herkes                                   
586-8400     
repherkes@capitol.hawaii.gov

Sylvia Luke                                         
586-8530     
repluke@capitol.hawaii.gov

Angus McKelvey                                 
586-6160     
repmckelvey@capitol.hawaii.gov

John Mizuno                                       
586-6050     
repmizuno@capitol.hawaii.gov

Hermina Morita                                   
586-8435       
repmorita@capitol.hawaii.gov

Blake Oshiro                                       
586-6340       
repboshiro@capitol.hawaii.gov

Joseph Souki                                     
586-9444       
repsouki@capitol.hawaii.gov

Clift Tsuji                                           
586-8480       
reptsuji@capitol.hawaii.gov

Glenn Wakai                                     
586-6220       
repwakai@capitol.hawaii.gov

Barbara Marumoto                             
586-6310       
repmarumoto@capitol.hawaii.gov

Cynthia Thielen                                 
586-6480     
repthielen@capitol.hawaii.gov

Ditto Jaydawg...my testimony is sent as well.

Submitted.  One point... the URL for the web testimony submission does not work.  The hyperlink contains a period at the end.  Just delete the period and it works.

Submitted my testimony as well.....
 
For those who would still like to submit testimony, you can do so with or without having to write something up. Just go to the weblink previously provided and hit the "support" option. If you'd like to consider writing something, you can review the previously submitted testimony and/or what I just sent in. While I wouldn't recommend using my work entirely, if parts of it can be incorporated into your testimony, or it helps break your writer's block, use away.....
 

LIFE provides basic firearms safety classes that are required before one can purchase a handgun in the Hawaii. We put these classes on every month and they fill up very quickly, often we have a waiting period of several months. Most students come to the class because they want to obtain a firearm for self defense.
 
Deciding to purchase a firearm for self defense is like buying a fire extinguisher, using a seatbelt, or having homeowners insurance. It is planning and preparing for something that you hope never happens. In a way, it is like the preparations various governmental agencies recommend when hurricane season comes around.
 
Why are these preparations necessary? Because, it is well known that in the event of a disaster, or a breakdown in civil order, citizens are very likely to be on their own in terms of providing food, water, medicines and other daily necessities for themselves. This basic and well understood concept is also applicable to defending one’s home and family. If the “government” is not able to supply the very basic necessities, how are they expected to be able to protect others? The truth is that cannot.
 
During hurricane Katrina firearms were illegally taken from law abiding citizens just when the police were least capable of protecting them. There were documented cases of police using extreme and illegal actions in this quest, including tackling an elderly lady to confiscate a small revolver and confiscating firearms being legally moved from a home after the occupants were forced to evacuate. Contrast that to the many examples of law abiding citizens using their guns to protect themselves and their community when 911 was inoperable or when police were unable to respond to calls for assistance.
 
The recent Tsunami scare, along with the memories of Hurricane Iniki should be enough to make anyone realize that Hawaii could, at any time, suffer a disaster of the same magnitude of Hurricane Katrina. Adjutant General Lee testified last year that he was opposed to this bill because he thought it might hamper law enforcement or rescue efforts after a disaster. What legitimate law enforcement objective would be hampered by allowing law abiding citizens to keep their firearms? None that I can think of. As a healthcare professional involved with disaster planning, preparations and response, I can say unequivocally that I would prefer to see individuals well prepared, including those with lawfully obtained firearms, rather than those who would unrealistically expect immediate rescue and protection in the aftermath of a significant disaster.
 
With Hawaii severely suffering during these difficult economic times, lets not forget that the gun confiscations after Katrina were found to be illegal and unconstitutional, with New Orleans being ordered by the courts to return the illegally seized firearms. With such a precedent can you imagine the cost of trying to defend any similar actions here?
 
And finally, let’s remember that approximately 32 states and the Federal government have passed laws prohibiting seizures of firearms during times of disaster and Hawaii should follow in their footsteps.
 
To even consider the possibility of allowing the seizure of legally owned firearms during  times when responsible and law abiding citizens need them most, especially when you know that no governmental agency can provide adequate protection for them, is morally and ethically reprehensible. 
 
I urge you to support and pass SB 358.
 
Thank you. 

Submitted.  It was short and largely based off of another, but they need to hear it and hear it again and again.

Thanks guys, it looks like we'll have a few pieces of testimony this time. Only a few more hours until the hearing.

JUD committee live on olelo 53 or on the web live streamed.

Wow, a lot of people submitted testimony. Good job.

I just gotta add, HiCarry, you are awesome!!!

Wow, a lot of people submitted testimony. Good job.

I just gotta add, HiCarry, you are awesome!!!

We had about 15+ pieces of submitted testimony. Very good job, guys! Now, with that being said, we still need to get that number up if we want to get some of the more controversial bills passed, but this is a darn good start. I just checked the olelo link and was lucky enough to catch the Chair taking the vote to pass the bill out of committe...looks like it was unanimous.

Both Rep. Thieland and Ito came up to us and said they supported the bill....I know a couple of othes did as well.

Once again, great job. Let's keep the pressure on them......
 
2aHawaii - Thanks, but I also gotta say that you have been instrumental in all of this as well....your dedication to keeping the forum updated and getting info out those that are willing to act on that info has been key to this (and hopefully, future) victory. So, good job as well! 

I don't know about the others, but I feel really good about being involved in the legislative process.  It's a lot better to speak up than stay silent and let others run your life.  (and bitching about how other people run your life too.)

I don't know about the others, but I feel really good about being involved in the legislative process.  It's a lot better to speak up than stay silent and let others run your life.  (and bitching about how other people run your life too.)

Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding.......you win the prize. I don't mean to sound facetious, but I think you've hit the nail on the head. It's the same reason I do it...I could sit at my computer and bitch and moan about the laws, but all that does is get me riled up without a "release" for that energy....I would rather focus that energy on constructive efforts to change things. And, while here in Hawaii the victories have often been small, each time "we" win, it's another chip at the restrictive laws here. As with the proliferation of gun control laws, the destruction of them will be piecemeal and require a lot of time and dedication. As someone who has been doing this for the last several years, I am very glad to see that others are beginning to "get it."
We can make a difference, but not by whinning to each other about how bad things are. We need to band together, to build a united front, and to make these lawmakers really fear what will happen to their reelection chances if they don't pass the legislation "we" want.
Now, just don't get discouraged....this is a distance race (remember this bill was introduced last year...), not a sprint, and there will be setbacks. But, we cannot let that demotivate us....we need to keep focused on the ultimate "prize" and not let minor dissapointments derail our continued efforts to realize our long-term goals.
Good job, and thanks!

Yep, it's official....
 

The committees on JUD recommend that the measure be PASSED, WITH AMENDMENTS. The votes were as follows: 9 Ayes: Karamatsu, Ito, Belatti, B. Oshiro, Souki, Tsuji, Wakai, Marumoto, Thielen; Ayes with reservations: none; 0 Noes: none; and 7 Excused: Cabanilla, Carroll, Herkes, Luke, McKelvey, Mizuno, Morita.

Submitted.  It was short and largely based off of another, but they need to hear it and hear it again and again.

When I testify in person I like to have something written out...but if you got the chance to watch the Olelo coverage of the hearing, you can see that if not testifying in person, the testimony submitted is "read" by the Chair by simply stating the name of the person and whether it is for or against the bill at hand. Some of the legislators MAY read all the testimony, but I suspect most do not and rely on just the info conveyd by the Chair's reading.....so short and sweet is just fine.

Good to see everything turned out well for our side.  Thanks for keeping us updated 2a. 

15+ pieces of testimony?  I'm not sure how I feel about that.  Makes me feel like I really contributed this time since I'm one of the few, but at the same time I realize I'm one of the FEW.  I understood that few people submit testimony during these hearings and even fewer attend despite the amount of people who feel that things need to change here.  But that number really drives the point home.  I'll do better from now on, even if it means short and sweet.   

Tuor,
Actually 15 is not a few, but quite a few pieces of testimony. If you were at the hearing or watched on Olelo, you would have seen the other bills that ALL had less than that. Most of them had only one or two pieces.
But as HiCarry said before, the best testimony you can provide is in-person testimony. I noticed that most in-person testimony people just read what they had submitted via online/email submissions.