I did too but the basic consensus I got was that because the HRA supported it, they were going to vote YES for it.
I believe that's the answer they gave to NRA members, HRA members and other 2A supporters- "HRA supports this..." but I'm betting they would have passed it anyway- because this is an answer to placate us without them mentioning another underlying issue. In it's current (pre HB69CD1) form- it also presents a liability to the state. Not in public safety necessarily, but in the way the existing statute for "bringing in a gun legally acquired out of state" is written. With results being a possible class action suit against the State. I don't remember the number 134-7 maybe (or 134-3 maybe??) does not include the requirement for fingerprinting or the registrant having to pay for fingerprinting. Plain and simple. So I believe if someone-anyone- moved here with a long gun they legally acquired before moving here, they legally didn't have to do fingerprinting or pay for it. This is "legally" speaking. I'm also betting the
de facto process that the police dept went through for someone bringing in one of these guns was to tell folks they had to do and pay for fingerprinting to get it registered- AND the dept would NOT register the gun unless the registrant did/ paid for fingerprinting. So while it was not in the statute, PD would not register unless folks fingerprinted and paid. I'm also betting someone would rather just "do it", even if it was not legally required, vs not getting their guns registered, and being in violation of that part of statute.
I "think" anyone who brought in a gun (aquired) this way AND had to do fingerprinting and pay for it has a good chance to enter into a law suit against the state for them "de facto" forcing the fingerprinting and payment since it's not "legally required". Knowing the State, any possible financial liability for not following statuate could be the hidden "loophole" that they just didn't discuss outside their private committee discussions.
So are there any 2AHawaii members who moved here and brough in a gun (aquired) legally out of state who also had to do and pay for the fingerprinting to get registered? If there are, I would suggest you contact me or someone (funtimes? I don't know who else) about the possibility of a class action suit against the state for forcing this when it wasn't a requirement. I don't think it matters that SB69 will go through at some future date- I'm talking about the dates after existing statuate was enacted up to when ever SB 69 gets signed into law.
I am not a lawyer. I am not a gun owner, but I am an activist in support of 2A rights and like the idea of the State having to follow existing laws or face the consequences. The only reason I say "contact me" is because I have time to take the names and info of anyone who may have been abused via this
de facto registration process AND pass it on to Chris or someone who would know what - if anything- can be done. I'm willing to help in what ever way I can- even if that is simply collecting info for the right party/lawyer??? to look at the possibility.
I could be way wrong on this, but I don't think so. I don't know if a class action suit based on this would help "us", but I can't imagine it would "hurt us"- but I've been wrong before. Also hoping Funtimes or someone w/ legal knowledge steps in now and says something. Something like "that's a bad idea and won't work" or "maybe that's not a bad idea". I'm just the messenger with a questionable message.