We need you now!

sample letter to cut & paste:

I oppose SB932.  Under this proposed legislation, Hawaiians would be subject to warrantless entry into their homes, warrantless seizure of their firearms and other weapons based solely on a mere “report” by a so-called “mental health professional.” This bill is blatantly unconstitutional as it mandates no before-the-fact due process or corroboration.

One of the most frightening aspects of SB 932 is its definition of a “mental health professional.” The bill defines them as: “a psychologist, psychiatrist, physician, social worker, or counselor.” This means that a family doctor, who has no specialized mental health training, could file a report to a law enforcement agency which would result in the confiscation of an individual’s firearms. Furthermore, the “mental health professionals” who would be afforded the power to take away a constitution right, would be exempt from all civil or criminal liability, and only subject to a misdemeanor for false reporting.

Also, I demand that you tell us what Hawaii is doing to comply with the NIAA.

Mahalo,
(your name here)


email to:

Senate Committee on Health
 
Senator Josh Green (D-3), Chair
 (808) 586-9385
sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
Senator Rosalyn Baker (D-6), Vice Chair
 (808) 586-6070
senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
Senator Suzanne Chun Oakland (D-13)
 (808) 586-6130
senchunoakland@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
Senator Clarence Nishihara (D-17)
 (808) 586-6970
sennishihara@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
Senator Sam Slom (R-9)
 (808) 586-8420
senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
 
Senate Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs:
 
Senator Will Espero (D-19), Chair
 (808) 586-6360
senespero@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
Senator Rosalyn Baker (D-6), Vice Chair
 (808) 586-6070
senbaker@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
Senator Brickwood Galuteria (D-12)
 (808) 586-6740
sengaluteria@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
Senator Josh Green (D-3)
 (808) 586-9385
sengreen@capitol.hawaii.gov
 
Senator Sam Slom (R-9)
 (808) 586-8420
senslom@capitol.hawaii.gov

Senate Bill 932 is scheduled to be heard THIS FRIDAY at 1:35 p.m. in conference room 229 of the State Capitol by the Senate Health (HTH) and Public Safety, Intergovernmental and Military Affairs (PSM) committees.
 
SB 932, introduced by state Senators Josh Green (D-3), Suzanne Chun Oakland (D-13), Clarence Nishihara (D-17), Russell Ruderman (D-2), and Maile Shimabukuro (D-21) is a terribly flawed mental health bill that must be defeated.

Please don't tell me that signs and letters don't work - maybe not always but they do.  Like has been said there are 4 boxes to choose/use:

Soap Box
Ballot Box
Jury Box
Ammo Box

Better to use the first ones while can right?  Send those letters in and see you this Friday at the Rally!

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/submittestimony.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=932

Link to submit testimony.

Opposed on Hawaii State Legislature

Done.

In case anyone wants some more cut and paste fodder, here's my submission:

I am opposed to this bill. Although the goal of keeping dangerous weapons out of the hands of the truly insane is a noble and worthwhile goal, the unintended consequences of this legislation will far outweigh any benefit. The proposed bill will serve as a negative incentive to those who most need mental health services. A person considering mass murder will be disinclined to discuss this with a mental health service provider, to the same degree and for the same reason that they would be loathe to discuss their impulses with a homicide detective.

While the proposed legislation would be counterproductive in its intended purpose, the wide net it casts would assuredly catch numerous people who pose no risk to anyone. This bill would essentially make it a crime to tell your therapist, "Gosh, my boss is such a jerk. I just want to punch him sometimes!" I would wager that every single member of this committee has entertained such a notion at one time or another; revoking a citizen's human right to own firearms without a scrap of due process is outrageous.

This bill puts the exercise of a Constitutionally protected human right at the mercy of anyone who can claim to be a mental health service provider, and further encourages over-reporting of every idle word which could be construed as threatening. Failure to report is punishable as a felony, while an outright lie aimed at revoking the rights of another person is a simple misdemeanor. This bill has a lofty goal, but falls far short. It will be counterproductive at stopping the next mass murderer, and will pose a significant threat to every gun owner in Hawaii. I urge you to vote against this bill.

Here is the NRA announcement:

http://www.nraila.org/legislation/state-legislation/2013/2/hawaii-deeply-flawed-mental-health-bill-to-be-heard-friday.aspx

Just submitted my testimony.
I know that it is a pain, but we have to keep up the heat.
The real heavy stuff is to come

Testimony submitted 

Just did mine.

done    and spread the word

Done.  Thank you for the heads up.

completed
everyone please submit testimony, even if you plan on showing up on friday
we need as many or more on this bill as on the last one!
keep up the pressure
fight the good fight

Done.

Done son

I couldn't find the article right off, but the last bill was killed in committee specifically because of the amount of opposing testimony and because of the showing at the hearing.

If I recall, the chair recommended passing the bill on but the vice chair - going against the recommendation - said that with over 360 pieces of testimony against and only 1 for that she would not go with the recommendation.

There is still some "public" left in this public process. Hawaii's gun laws are plenty strict and everyone knows it. We just need to make good and damned sure that they know we know it, too.

opposed

opposed

This is some scary stuff.  What I envision is the truly sick NOT seeking the proper attention and treatment for fear of being "turned in".   I wonder if these people really think before they submit these bad bills?

Submitted my $.02