The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms (Read 538 times)

changemyoil66

The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« on: May 15, 2026, 08:26:16 AM »
Since the senstive places law was passed, The Bus put up no guns allowed signage on the buses, handivans, The Bus cars that supervisors use, and bus transit centers.

Andew (HIFICO director) with a gun case had entered a bus and was told by the bus driver no guns allowed.  The bus driver pointed to the no guns allowed signage.  There was no gun in the case, but instead camera equipment.  Andrew told this to the bus driver.  He was then told to leave the bus.  He asked for a refund, but was told since he paid via card, he has to call the number to get a refund for his fair. The interaction was about 45 seconds.

It is not against the law to transport a firearm on The Bus or Handivan or transit centers.  It's just illegal to CCW a firearm.

Since then, attorney Alan Beck reached out to the city and they are removing their no guns allowed signage as it's confusing as it implies all guns are banned.

See below FB post by Beck:

"A couple months ago my clients informed me that they had been denied entry onto a Honolulu bus because they were transporting a firearm in a locked container.  The bus driver pointed to the no guns sign that was posted on that and every other bus in Honolulu County.  I realized these and other no guns signs were in violation of both Honolulu's own ordinances and the California portion of the ruling we received in Wolford. In the California case which was joined with Wolford, the Ninth Circuit held that the government cannot ban the transport of firearms on public transportation. I contacted the Honolulu Corporate Counsel and discussed my concerns with them.  They agreed to remove the signs.  Its been a few weeks since we completed negotiations and true to its word, Honolulu has begun to remove the signs.  I'm proud of the work I've done in Hawaii.  After 15 years, dozens of lawsuits which I've primarily done at no fee to my clients, and many negotiations like this one which I have done out of my own pocket, I am a lot closer to the end of what I can do for Hawaii than the beginning.  However, there is still a lot to be done.  I feel like I'm in the process of landing a plane right now and I want to land the plane right"

Beck wasn't compensated for this, but chose to reach out on his own for FREE because his menatlity is the work he does isn't complete if the city/state doesn't obey it.

rpoL98

Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #1 on: May 15, 2026, 12:15:53 PM »
wow, awesome!

thank you to Andrew and Alan Beck, much appreciated.    :shaka:    :shaka:

Kalihi Uka

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Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #2 on: May 15, 2026, 04:19:38 PM »
Imagine if every man here stepped up as Alan Beck does.

Why, we’d be living in free country.
My ankle monitor? It’s right there at home where it belongs

zippz

Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2026, 09:51:15 PM »
Imagine if every man here stepped up as Alan Beck does.

Why, we’d be living in free country.

It didn't require an attorney to stop this.  Anyone, including yourself, can make stuff like this happen.  Just requires a call to TheBus management and elevating it up until someone changes it.  If that doesn't work, a call to the Mayors office or 2A friendly city council member should do it.  Attorneys are the last resort.

ren

Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2026, 10:31:33 PM »
Handi Van?
Deeds Not Words

Kalihi Uka

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Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2026, 07:26:15 AM »
Quote from: Kalihi Uka on May 15, 2026, 04:19:38 PM

“Imagine if every man here stepped up as Alan Beck does.

Why, we’d be living in free country.”


It didn't require an attorney to stop this.  Anyone, including yourself, can make stuff like this happen.  Just requires a call to TheBus management and elevating it up until someone changes it.  If that doesn't work, a call to the Mayors office or 2A friendly city council member should do it.  Attorneys are the last resort.
Thanks for repeating what I said.
My ankle monitor? It’s right there at home where it belongs

Kalihi Uka

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Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2026, 09:54:59 AM »
If you thought that you already knew what they were doing was wrong at the top of the discussion - probably like most of us - it’s because you read the code: Hawaii law already explicitly permits the proper transport (rigid locked box, etc.) on public transportation - so The Bus was way wrong to post their “no concealed carry stickers” in the first place - but that’s the kind of abuse of power we have to push back against daily.

The code is

[§134-9.1]  Carrying or possessing a firearm in certain locations and premises prohibited; penalty.
…..

 (b)  This section shall not apply to a person in an exempt category identified in section 134-11(a).  It shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution under this section that a person is:
…..

 (b) ~ 8.  Possessing a firearm in an airport or any place, facility, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit; provided that the firearm is unloaded and in a locked hard-sided container for the purpose of transporting the firearm;


https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0134/HRS_0134-0009_0001.htm

My ankle monitor? It’s right there at home where it belongs

changemyoil66

Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2026, 12:21:03 PM »
If you thought that you already knew what they were doing was wrong at the top of the discussion - probably like most of us - it’s because you read the code: Hawaii law already explicitly permits the proper transport (rigid locked box, etc.) on public transportation - so The Bus was way wrong to post their “no concealed carry stickers” in the first place - but that’s the kind of abuse of power we have to push back against daily.

The code is

[§134-9.1]  Carrying or possessing a firearm in certain locations and premises prohibited; penalty.
…..

 (b)  This section shall not apply to a person in an exempt category identified in section 134-11(a).  It shall be an affirmative defense to any prosecution under this section that a person is:
…..

 (b) ~ 8.  Possessing a firearm in an airport or any place, facility, or vehicle used for public transportation or public transit; provided that the firearm is unloaded and in a locked hard-sided container for the purpose of transporting the firearm;


https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/hrscurrent/Vol03_Ch0121-0200D/HRS0134/HRS_0134-0009_0001.htm

I wouldn't call it an abuse of power.  More like the usual, someone who doesn't under stand the law.  We see the same with politicians, they don't understand the 2A right. But some are extreme and do understand it, but still ignore it. F-U, sue us.  But I'm gonna lean toward the doesn't know the law for the bus sign.

rpoL98

Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2026, 02:17:47 PM »
I'm sorry, but I beg to differ.

I do call it an abuse of power.

They do know, but they do it anyways, betting that nobody will call them on it.  The tone is set by our local government, still passing laws that they know are unconstitutional, and putting the burden on the citizen to prove them wrong.  Blatant arrogance.

And even when they get called out, they still persist, and say "FU, take it up to the Supreme Court, I double-dog dare you."  The process is the penalty, financial and otherwise.

Trickle-down abuse of power.  Leadership sets the tone, and underlings fall in line.  You may argue ignorance, or stupidity, or malicious intent.  Regardless, they hire the right kind of minions.

Kalihi Uka

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Re: The Bus (Honolulu County/Oahu) and firearms
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2026, 03:05:15 PM »
I'm sorry, but I beg to differ.

I do call it an abuse of power.

They do know, but they do it anyways, betting that nobody will call them on it.  The tone is set by our local government, still passing laws that they know are unconstitutional, and putting the burden on the citizen to prove them wrong.  Blatant arrogance.

And even when they get called out, they still persist, and say "FU, take it up to the Supreme Court, I double-dog dare you."  The process is the penalty, financial and otherwise.

Trickle-down abuse of power.  Leadership sets the tone, and underlings fall in line.  You may argue ignorance, or stupidity, or malicious intent.  Regardless, they hire the right kind of minions.
The points you make about their open and vigorous contempt for our Constitution are beyond undeniable at this point, and the contempt here in Hawaii is absolutely top-down and complete, from side to side.

Far from accidental, it is their most cherished objective, what must be pushed forward daily, in order to slouch a constitutional republic into a de-facto totalitarian state.

What you wrote was very well said.
My ankle monitor? It’s right there at home where it belongs