As many of you know, in part because you were instrumental in getting them passed, the Gov signed into law two pieces of legislation that "we" as gun owners wanted. It was a long and at times, frustrating process. But, eventually we got it through.
 
Now, we need to think about what we want to do next. Planning for the next legislative session needs to be done far in advance of the actual session. Personally I think we are in a good position next year, but we have to plan well in order to capitilize on the circumstances that I believe will make it "easier" for us.
 
That being said, what do you want to see introduced next year and what are you willing to do to see that through the legislative session?
 
It's not enough to say you want concealed carry. You have to be willing to put some time and effort into making it happen. So, what's next? 

We need to draw up some language that defines the differences between rifles and pistols, so we can bring out our STANDARD capacity mags once again!

Hopefully there is a lawyer AND a gunowner somewhere that can do this properly.

We need to draw up some language that defines the differences between rifles and pistols, so we can bring out our STANDARD capacity mags once again!

Hopefully there is a lawyer AND a gunowner somewhere that can do this properly.

Thank for the input. I would suggest that we just go for elimination of the 10 round limit on handguns as an alternative.

Now, the hard part: what are you (we) going to do about that? I don't mean to discredit anyone's effort thus far, but to be successful, we'll need to get concrete ideas, and firm commitments regarding what everyone will do to get this moving. I guess what I am asking is, what exactly is everyone is willing to do to get whatever bills they want introduced sherperded through the next legislative session.

Are you willing to write testimony? What about going to the legislator's offices? What about joining a phone bank to call potential supporters and solicit funds? Or contributing your own money and time? How about participating in a rally at the Capitol if that's what's needed? Maybe you have better ideas on how we could influence the legislators and the public, so are you willing to participate in meetings and group discussions to facilitate this?

What's needed is "boots on the ground" and hands to "press the flesh" of those we seek to influence, to push these types of bills forward. Can we do that?

I think it comes as no surprise that I really want "shall issue" carry permits. Removing the 10 round limit would be another good one. The last one, by a long shot, would be to remove the restriction on NFA items.

I am willing to do most of those things that you have listed HiCarry. What would be a great help is specific instructions on what to do to help. I think most of us don't know what to do while the Legislature is in recess and only know how to provide testimony because we were guided there. I think those instructions can go a long way. At least for me.

1.  Removal of the requirement for permits to acquire.

2.  Removal of the requirement to register firearms, to include the destruction of all existing records and the dissolution of all police firearms units statewide.

3.  Removal of limits on magazine capacities.

4.  Removal of silly language defining the term "assault" in relation to firearms.

5.  Removal of all language pertaining to carrying firearms.

6.  Removal of restrictions against Title 2 weapons.

In more-or-less that priority.

What am I willing to do?

A.  Submit testimony

B.  Make television and radio commercials (assuming there's money to run them)

C.  Design flyers, handouts, and mailers

D.  Sit around tables discussing strategy and options

That is a really good list Tom!!!

Thanks!

Does anyone here know anything about submitting FOIA requests?  It occurs to me that we could start now sculpting such requests relating to gun registration and get some facts and figures about exactly how effective that unit is.  If the facts show it to be a complete waste of taxpayer dollars that has virtually no impact on crime, we can attack it as a cost-cutting measure for the state.  (That idea actually came to me from HiCarry.)  That way, we're not a bunch of gun nuts trying to endanger the citizenry, we're civic-minded folks trying to reduce government waste.

Hey, it worked in Canada!

Thanks!

Does anyone here know anything about submitting FOIA requests?  It occurs to me that we could start now sculpting such requests relating to gun registration and get some facts and figures about exactly how effective that unit is.  If the facts show it to be a complete waste of taxpayer dollars that has virtually no impact on crime, we can attack it as a cost-cutting measure for the state.  (That idea actually came to me from HiCarry.)  That way, we're not a bunch of gun nuts trying to endanger the citizenry, we're civic-minded folks trying to reduce government waste.

Hey, it worked in Canada!

1.  Removal of the requirement for permits to acquire.

2.  Removal of the requirement to register firearms, to include the destruction of all existing records and the dissolution of all police firearms units statewide.

3.  Removal of limits on magazine capacities.

4.  Removal of silly language defining the term "assault" in relation to firearms.

5.  Removal of all language pertaining to carrying firearms.

6.  Removal of restrictions against Title 2 weapons.

In more-or-less that priority.

What am I willing to do?

A.  Submit testimony

B.  Make television and radio commercials (assuming there's money to run them)

C.  Design flyers, handouts, and mailers

D.  Sit around tables discussing strategy and options

Tom,

Thanks...the latter part of your list was what I was hoping to get from folks. I know you realize (if anyone doesn't know, Tom contributes a significant amount of his free time to participate in various pro-gun activities) what it takes. I think we need to get these same types of commitments from folks, here on this forum and elsewhere, before we can adequately plan for the who, what, when, where, and how of any coordinated effort next year.

FYI - Here's a nice booklet on FOIA in Hawaii - http://www.state.hi.us/lrb/par/pub/foi.pdf

Thanks buddy!

I think it comes as no surprise that I really want "shall issue" carry permits. Removing the 10 round limit would be another good one. The last one, by a long shot, would be to remove the restriction on NFA items.

I am willing to do most of those things that you have listed HiCarry. What would be a great help is specific instructions on what to do to help. I think most of us don't know what to do while the Legislature is in recess and only know how to provide testimony because we were guided there. I think those instructions can go a long way. At least for me.

What's needed, IMHO, is to get folks to commit to real action. Maybe a gathering of all interested in helping to see what type of organized and coordinated activities we could realistically pull off. Unfortunately it is the organization of any group that seems to be the biggest obstacle to moving past the talking phase and into the action phase.

For example, if we put CCW on the legislative agenda next year, it doesn't stand a snowballs chance of passing without some significant changes to the strategy and proscess we'd used in the past. So, what should we do? That's where we need to start. Let's organize a group of likeminded gun owners, those who are willing to commit the time and energy necessary, to brainstorm about what activities would be most likely to be effective in moving that bill successfully through the process.

So, who wants to tackle organizing an exploratory group/meeting to get the ball rolling?

 

Tom,

Maybe we could use your skills to produce some you tube spots about any of the issues we address next year? We might be able to get some other funding to use "real TV" spots, but I think it's best to assume that funding will be tight for whatever we do. Hence the necessity of the grassroots effort.....

1.  Removal of the requirement for permits to acquire.

2.  Removal of the requirement to register firearms, to include the destruction of all existing records and the dissolution of all police firearms units statewide.

3.  Removal of limits on magazine capacities.

4.  Removal of silly language defining the term "assault" in relation to firearms.

5.  Removal of all language pertaining to carrying firearms.

6.  Removal of restrictions against Title 2 weapons.

In more-or-less that priority.

What am I willing to do?

A.  Submit testimony

B.  Make television and radio commercials (assuming there's money to run them)

C.  Design flyers, handouts, and mailers

D.  Sit around tables discussing strategy and options

I second this strategy!!!

Willing to also participate in discussion or meetings or youtube vids, etc.

Maybe we could use your skills to produce some you tube spots about any of the issues we address next year? We might be able to get some other funding to use "real TV" spots, but I think it's best to assume that funding will be tight for whatever we do. Hence the necessity of the grassroots effort.....

I have the skills, and access to the technology.  I am willing to donate the time.  As you may or may not know, in my "real" life, I am a video god.

As far as grassroots go, there are options.  Public Access television (Olelo here on Oahu) will air PSAs and programs for no charge, with some restrictions.  Mainly, that we can not be using their airtime to make money.  Nothing stops us from making a campaign of pro-2A messages and airing them.  Well, nothing except person hours. 

We can, of course, submit those same PSAs to other local broadcasters.  They are required to do a pitifully small number of PSAs daily.  Whether they would choose to publicize a pro-2A message, though, is an unknown.

There's YouTube, MySpace, Facebook.  Lots of free viral media outlets.  We'd need someone (not me) to stay on top of keeping things circulating.

I really like those ideas Tom.  We need to reach out to the "younger" generation that rely on the internet for information.  What about a booth at the next gun show for 2ahawaii.com?  I'd man a booth, pass out informational brochures.  Get some names for a phone/address list of people interested in supporting an issue.  I realize it would not be beneficial for next year's legislative session, but at least it would introduce the site to those that are not so internet savvy.   It can be at other non-gun venues as well, such as the bully-dog shows.

How can we get the gun clubs involved, or would they want to get involved?

How does the HRA figure into all of this?

Tom,
 
Belive me, I realize your "video god" status, that's why I mentioned you doing that.....:-)
 
I think a booth at the gun show is a great idea, and if it encourages a few folks to get involved, great. But, like here, it's sort of like preaching to the choir.
 
I wouldn't want to discourage anyone form doing something like this, but I guess my focus is really toward the next legislative session and what we can do to make the greatest impact there.
 
As far as how HRA fits into this, I am HRA. My efforts are directly related to promoting HRA's agenda. We have already started planning what we'll do next year, which is why I wanted to (hopefully) inspire, cajole, goad, or otherwise push folks to get involved now. The number of dedicated indivuals at HRA that participate in the legislative process is small and we need more. It is not enough to just be an HRA member. If you want to see real change, it will take active participation. Hence the call out to all of you who wanted to know what to do.
 
I still think that if you want to see concealed carry have even the slightest chance of getting through next year you need to start now. I suggested forming a "steering committe" or advisory group to bring all the Second Amendment advocates here, and elsewhere in Hawaii, together to discuss strategy. I'd be willing to help, but I cannot organize it or take primary responsibility for maintaining it. That has to come from you guys, and so far I don't see anyone stepping up to take on the challenge......

Prior to finding 2ahawaii I've always felt passionately about gun rights and changing the current gun laws, however I never knew where or how I could help.  I think  there are hundreds of other shooters in that same situation, who feel strongly about the issues but don't know how to help.  As it stands now, many in the shooting community simply do not know we exist.  Sure we get a few new members wandering in who were linked over from the various websites or by luck, but we're simply not reaching the real meat of the community. 

To recruit and activate these other shooters, I think we should do a simple yet effective advertisement campaign consisting of stickers and T-shirts:

I like flyers, but they're usually just read once (if even that) and discarded.  This is why I prefer stickers for advertising.  Stickers are relatively inexpensive and can be produced in large quantities.  All we need is a very basic design, the simpler the better as the shooting community for the most part is a subtle-non-flashy bunch.  I'm thinking white text on a black background to match most people's gear.  Just think about your shooting gear you bring with you to the range; out of all your gear you must have something with a hard surface (a case, a box etc) where you could put a sticker to advertise the website.  Whenever any of us are at the shooting range (which happens often enough), just takes a five minute walk down the line to pass out stickers and chat up some folks. Let's say stickers get passed out 2 times a month and each time we get 5-10 new people coming to the website joining our cause.  By the next time the legislative session comes around we'll be 100+ strong. 

I've done this type of campaign for a website I helped managed before and it was very effective in bringing in new membership and keeping the website and the organization "visible" in the community.  With your permission 2a, I volunteer my time and financial resources to handle this aspect of recruitment. 


The T-shirt issue we've somewhat discussed on HRA, but could never come to a clear cut consensus as to a design.  If we can figure out a nice design everyone agrees upon I'd be willing to back some of the start up costs financially (in part at least) as well. 

Hey, combine two ideas here!  Have a booth at the next gun show, and sell stickers and t-shirts!  I, for one, simply cannot have enough t-shirts.

I've still got the design ideas I rolled out the last time this discussion came around, as well as the concept my boss did.  Maybe we should start up a "Premiums" or "Advertising" thread and get the ball rolling?  There's time... barely.

Wow, Antithesis, I may just have to take you up on that offer. The stickers sound like a great idea and could be given out to all the 2aHawaii members interested in distributing them. Were you interested in designing it?

Tom, care to expand on what you meant by "Premiums" or "Advertising" thread?

Tom, care to expand on what you meant by "Premiums" or "Advertising" thread?

Giveaways are sometimes referred to as "premiums."  It just seemed that if we, as a group, were to seriously undertake either the making of a logo or the spreading of the word, either of those endeavors would be worthy of their own discussion thread.

^ I like this idea.  Or maybe even just a temporary/permanent sub forum devoted to recruitment and advertising. 

Any updates on this? New ideas? Meetings?