I think the HRA and LIFE were right to oppose this bill.  It was never going to pass, and supporting it would have allowed the anti's to paint gun owners as absolute loons.  "Without invitation"?  That's ludicrous, even by my standards.  It would have literally made it perfectly ok to blow your neighbor's head off if he knocked on your door and cracked it open to step inside and say, "Anybody home?". 

Sometimes bills are so extreme that it's better for an organization to just steer completely clear and oppose the whole thing than to risk being associated with what would clearly be a wildly unpopular proposal.

I think the HRA and LIFE were right to oppose this bill.  It was never going to pass, and supporting it would have allowed the anti's to paint gun owners as absolute loons.  "Without invitation"?  That's ludicrous, even by my standards.  It would have literally made it perfectly ok to blow your neighbor's head off if he knocked on your door and cracked it open to step inside and say, "Anybody home?". 

Sometimes bills are so extreme that it's better for an organization to just steer completely clear and oppose the whole thing than to risk being associated with what would clearly be a wildly unpopular proposal.

The real question/concern is why wasn't this bill thoroughly vetted among 2a members and HRA/LIFE leadership and why was there no communication/discussion between HRA/LIFE and 2a members? Everyone should be unified in their testimony and in sync. This effort was fragmented at best and that's no way to successfully achieve the objective.

The real question/concern is why wasn't this bill thoroughly vetted among 2a members and HRA/LIFE leadership and why was there no communication/discussion between HRA/LIFE and 2a members? Everyone should be unified in their testimony and in sync. This effort was fragmented at best and that's no way to successfully achieve the objective.

Indeed.  That is a question I cannot answer, other than to say that I think HRA/LIFE did a good job of representing the best interests of their members.  We just need to figure out how to get the word out to all the individuals writing in.

Indeed.  That is a question I cannot answer, other than to say that I think HRA/LIFE did a good job of representing the best interests of their members.  We just need to figure out how to get the word out to all the individuals writing in.

Agree! I wrongfully assumed some people on this forum were interfacing with these organizations but now I realize that is not the case. That surely needs to be rectified and it's in everyones best interest, both 2a members and the organizations.

HRA is good for Hawaii gun owners. However, communication with the HRA is very difficult at best.  I have an older coworker the has been a HRA member since forever, and he had no clue that all these anti bills where coming out, untill I told him about it.  The way things move so fast these days, those without computer access or do not have interest in checking this forum or FB are pretty much out of the loop.  By the time they receive a HRA news letter it is much too late to do anything.

Hi all -- I received this email from HRA today..  Just wanted to pass this along

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HRA Leg Report, 2/28/2013

The Senate Ways And Means money committee (WAM) gave decision and took a vote to pass SB69, SD1, which started out as a gun buyback bill, but ended up stuffed with other issues by Sen.Will Espero’s Public Safety Committee.  We haven’t seen the actual Senate Draft 2 (SD2) yet, but Chair David Ige announced his recommendations, removing reference to gun buybacks, mental health background checks, and police gun safety programs from the bill.  The $200,000 earmarked appropriation for these is deleted, but a blank line for an appropriation to the county police was left in the bill for further discussion.  The bill will authorize the county police to do NICS (National Instant Checks System) checks (supported by HRA) on firearms owners who are already required to register firearms they bring in from out of state, and collect the FBI fee for fingerprints if the registrant has none on file.  The 3-day window to register guns brought in is increased to 5 days, compatible with the registration requirement for guns acquired in state, and allowing for 3-day weekends.  Sen. Sam Slom voted “no” as did WAM Vice-Chair, Senator Michelle Kidani, who said the counties should fund their own county police programs. Sen. Suzanne Chun Oakland expressed her concern about the Chair’s recommendation to extend the registration window.    Go to:

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/measure_indiv.aspx?billtype=SB&billnumber=69&year=2013

in a few days, when the clerks catch up, for the actual SD2 language crossing over to the House where the whole process repeats.

HB603, amending the Hawaii self-defense statutes, was heard Tuesday in House Judiciary Committee.  Although this complicated section of Hawaii statute could be improved, HRA believes the current statute, only recently passed in 2010, is sufficient, and the legislative climate this year is too volatile, so recommended in testimony that the bill be deferred indefinitely (dead for the year).  Chair Rhoads announced that as his intention.  There will be no HB1 draft generated.

The Legislature is at its half-way point March 7, 2013.  The worst gun bills are already dead for the year.  A big mahalo to all you activists who support our gun rights during this difficult legislative session.  Don’t let up before it’s over, May 2!

Dr Maxwell Cooper
HRA Legislative Liaison