Sensible legislation
Dear editor,
I support Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green’s signing of controversial Senate Bill 1230 on June 2, “making it illegal to carry firearms in ‘sensitive places’ including government buildings, hospitals, restaurants and bars that serve alcohol, plus stadiums, movie theaters, concert halls … colleges (reports KITV4),” banks and beaches.
On July 2, “30 injured, 2 fatally, in Baltimore mass shooting: ‘It was a war zone,’” reports ABC News. As of May 1, more than 13,900 people have been killed by guns so far in 2023, and “There have been 131 mass shootings with four or more people wounded or killed so far in 2023 compared to 113 this time last year,” reports ABC News.
The Harvard Injury Control Research Center reports a “review of the academic literature found that a broad array of evidence indicates that gun availability is a risk factor for homicide … where there are more guns, both men and women are at a higher risk for homicide, particularly firearm homicide.”
As a retired school teacher, I feel kids should be educated on how the USA can legally repeal the Second Amendment especially to eliminate school homicides with automatic weapons.
Retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens called for a repeal of the Second Amendment in a New York Times op-ed, and he urged demonstrators pressing for gun control to do the same. Gun violence is escalating, and repealing the Second Amendment is the most democratic and intelligent solution.
Some in Hawai‘i want a permit to carry a concealed weapon to the bank to protect themselves, reports The Garden Island, but clearly this escalates the risk of confrontation and subsequent gun violence.
“Japan, which has strict laws for obtaining firearms, seldom has more than 10 shooting deaths a year in a population of 127 million people. If Japanese people want to own a gun, they must attend an all-day class, pass a written test…Then they have to pass a mental-health evaluation at a hospital, as well as a background check, in which the government digs into any criminal records or ties and interviews friends and family members.
“Finally, they can buy only shotguns and air rifles — no handguns — and must retake the class and the initial exam every three years,” reports Independent News.
Therefore, Hawai‘i’s SB 1230 is a crucial step in the right direction to reduce the risk of homicides on Kaua‘i and in schools.
Will M. Davis, Lihu‘e
“Then they have to pass a mental-health evaluation at a hospital, as well as a background check, in which the government digs into any criminal records or ties and interviews friends and family members.”
Excepting the hospital evaluation and personal interviews, Hawaii requires the same things, Will. Clearly you have no idea of what the existing Hawaii laws are. Furthermore, you are making the fatal (often literal) error of commingling criminals with law abiding citizens. It’s the criminals that recognize the so-called “sensitive places” are essentially free fire zones for them. You need to get a grip on reality.
RSW
Thanks, RSW, but I don’t understand your logic. If we take away the second amendment as retired Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stephens advocates, then we take away the guns from all criminals who will no longer be able to kill in “sensitive places.”
The reality is with the current second amendment, “In 2019, 62 people in Hawaii died by gun violence, an average of one person every week. Suicides were 66% of the gun deaths and homicides were 23%.” Reference: https://efsgv.org/state/hawaii/
Fully agree. Owning guns is not a right. The second amendment was written for a specific reason at a much different time. It is a proven fact that with more guns easily accessible, there is more gun violence. Period. The US has become a killing field on a daily basis and more guns are not the answer.
nonsense:
Your assertion is contradicted by FBI and other data. Moreover, the 2A was included in the Bill of Rights for the specific purpose of giving American citizens the means to protect themselves against ANY threats.
You might give this book a thorough reading before drawing erroneous conclusions:
“More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws”, Third Edition (Studies in Law and Economics) by John R. Lott Jr
RSW
Nonsense RSW: The following FBI link shows the majority of US homicides as of 2017, were committed by guns. https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2017/crime-in-the-u.s.-2017/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8.xls
US gun homicides as in schools by automatic weapons, are escalating. Removing the 2nd amendment is a solution to dramatically reduce homicides of innocent people who don’t have guns and/ or don’t want guns. If we don’t take dramatic measures to eliminate gun violence in the US, then all law abiding citizens are at greater risk of homicide.
Here is a quote from FBI Director, Christopher Wray on escalating USA homicides, 2022: “”Violence against law enforcement in this country is one of the biggest phenomena that I think doesn’t get enough attention,” Wray said. “Last year, officers were being killed at a rate of almost one every five days.”
In 2021, 73 officers were killed, a 59% increase in the murders of police officers. Wray said some were targeted solely because they were police officers.
“Some of it is tied to the violent crime problem as a whole. But one of the phenomena that we saw in the last year is that an alarming percentage of the 73 law enforcement officers killed in the line of duty last year were killed through things like being ambushed– or shot while out on patrol,” Wray told Pelley. “Wearing the badge shouldn’t make you a target.”
Reference: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/fbi-director-christopher-wray-domestic-terrorism-violence-in-america/
Clearly if the second amendment can be repealed, much fewer US police officers will be murdered.
The right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. Got it? Better look at your history lessons you weren’t paying attention to in grade and high school. Note: China, Russia, Nazi Germany, etc. Millions died because they were disarmed by their governments. Want to go down that rabbit hole? I do not! Full list:
Turkey established gun control in 1911. Soon after, 1.5 million Armenians unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
The Soviet Union established gun control in 1929. Soon after, about 20 million dissidents unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. Soon after, 20 million political dissidents unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938. Soon after, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. Soon after, one million people unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. Soon after, 100,000 Mayan Indians unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. Soon after, 300,000 Christians unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
Australia established gun control in 1996. Right now, Australian citizens are being brutalized and terrorized by their tyrannical government, which continues to operate COVID “Concentration Camps”.
Venezuela established Desarma La Violencia to disarm citizens in 2010. Once one of the richest countries in Latin America, Venezuela is currently free falling into violent unrest and extreme poverty.
New Zealand expanded gun control in 2019. Right now, New Zealand citizens are being brutalized and terrorized by their tyrannical government.
Canada expanded gun control in 2020. Right now, Canadian citizens are being brutalized and terrorized by their tyrannical government.