Hawaii gun laws hit target

LIHUE — Hawaii sticks to its guns with firearms legislation.

“I believe Hawaii is a model for the rest of the country,” said state Rep. Nadine Nakamura. “We have one of the lowest gun-related deaths (rates) among all 50 states due to many factors.”

Those factors include the low rate of gun ownership, strong gun control laws and firearm permit issuing, a gun safety education requirement, and mental health affidavit with medical record accessibility being required at the time of registration.

“Hawaii also has a 14- to 20-day waiting period, (and) bans handgun magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition and semi-automatic handguns with certain features,” Nakamura said.

“In Hawaii, I think we’ve got good laws in place that keeps firearms out of people’s hands that shouldn’t have them,” said Bronson Bautista, owner of PD Designs and Armory in Lihue. “There are some things I wish we could be a little more lax on, but other than that it doesn’t really affect business or make it harder.”

The biggest thing Bautista has noticed is how new gun laws can affect hunters, actually changing the way they hunt.

“It’s just a process that you got to get used to and go through,” Bautista said. “We’re always about safe handling of firearms and responsible ownership.”

Local shotgun shooters frequently visit Kauai Eco Sporting Clays to shoot clay targets for recreation.

Owner Ben Ellsworth has provided instruction to more than 15,000 shooters on his gun range and makes sure everyone has a safety briefing before teaching them the fundamentals.

Recreational target shooting is a popular pastime that prepares hunters for the field, Ellsworth said, and his gun range operates successfully under current laws.

Fully automatic firearms, shotguns with barrels less than 18 inches long, and rifles with barrels less than 16 inches long are prohibited by state law.

“The current gun laws in Hawaii are very stringent,” said Jason Bryant, owner of JGB Arms in Lihue. “We have some of the most rigid gun laws in the nation. Current gun owners have to jump through quite a bit of hoops to legally own a firearm in Hawaii.”

Permits are valid in the issuing county only, and Hawaii does not recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states.

“Currently, all firearm buyers must undergo a criminal background check, a mental health background check and subject themselves to active monitoring on an FBI-sponsored crime database,” Bryant said.

After attending a recent conference in Nashville, state Rep. Dee Morikawa realized that a lot of people, legislators included, have permits to carry guns. Knowing that, she hesitated going out around town.

“That is hard to do in Hawaii, and I believe our gun laws are strict enough,” Morikawa said. “However, I do expect some legislation to be introduced next session, but I am very supportive of protecting our hunters and their right to enjoy that activity.”

All firearms, including those brought into the state by new residents, must be registered.

“We are very fortunate that past legislators took gun control seriously, police departments duly carry out their responsibilities of permitting guns, and we have dedicated volunteers who provide gun safety and hunter education on Kauai,” Nakamura said.

“I believe all of these factors help to reduce the incidence of gun violence, but cannot guarantee a mass shooting will not occur in Hawaii,” Nakamura added. “For that, we need family and friends to be aware of the potential threat of violence, and to seek professional mental health assistance if they suspect a person is a threat to themselves and others in our community.”

The Oct. 1 mass shooting in Las Vegas, often referred to as Hawaii’s ninth island, was a reminder of how quickly communities can be affected by tragedy.

“As far as prevention of mass shootings, it is hard to do because many states differ in gun regulations or lack of,” Morikawa said. “It’s a national effort that is needed.”