Hawaii Opposition to Concealed Carry not Just Over Reciprocity
by David Codrea
By David Codrea
It’s not that the Hawaii’s “progressive” state government is against guns—they just want to be the ones in complete control of them. (Honolulu Police Department Specialized Services)
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- “Attorney General Doug Chin joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in forcefully opposing the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, arguing that the ill-conceived legislation would override local public safety decisions and endanger communities and police,” a Monday press release announced. “The legislation (H.R. 38 / S. 446) would force states to recognize concealed carry weapon permits from other states.”
Not all are fans of “progressive” rule. (Hawaii Republican Assembly)
“Hawaii lawmakers already made decisions about firearms and public safety that best serve our state,” Chin claimed. “We will resist any efforts by the federal government to turn our state into the Wild West and strip Hawaii residents of the protections passed by our state leaders.”
That lie again. Blood in the streets. Dodge City over fender benders.
Reality has shown such “predictions” to have been nothing but fallacies intended to spook the herd for over 20 years now. But that doesn’t stop the gun-grabbers from parroting phony talking points, especially when they can count on ignorant constituents dumb enough to cede their rights to scoundrels.
And notice the “home rule” argument is always a one-way street with these characters. You never hear them complaining about federal infringements, only about when the heavy hand eases up.
The truth is, in defiance of federal and state Constitutions, Hawaii officials demand the enforcers be the “Only Ones” authorized to bear arms. According to advocate George Pace, a one-man force of nature championing rights on behalf of fellow Hawaiian gun owners, the state issues no carry permits.
From a summary Pace compiled, noting the attorney general did not start keeping records until 2000, state totals for concealed carry permits are:
You won’t be doing this in Hawaii…
2000 – 1 denial
2001 – 8 denials, 2 approved Maui
2002 – 4 denied
2003 – 1 denied
2004 – 5 denied
2005 – 6 denied
2006 –1 issued Kauai
2007 – 7 denied
2008 – 1 denied
2009 – 3 denied Honolulu
2010 – 3 denied Honolulu
2011 – 8 denials Honolulu
2012 – 5 denials (4 Honolulu, 1 Maui)
2013 – 7 denials Honolulu, I issued Kauai
2014 – 19 denials Honolulu, 2 denials Kauai
2015 saw “[a] statewide total of 44 private citizens applied for a concealed carry license in 2015, including 27 in the City & County of Honolulu, 12 in Hawaii County, three in Kauai County, and two in Maui County; all applicants were denied by the respective county’s chief of police.” The state did not issue any in 2016 either.
“I did file Hawaii’s equivalent to the FOIA request (Uniform Information Practices Act (UIPA)), and then appeals when the requests were denied or ignored, for that information.” Pace tells AmmoLand Shooting Sports News.
Maui PD claimed that the information on the two licenses they issued in 2001 no longer exists, and claim that no one currently employed by Maui PD knows anything about the cases. Kauai PD provided none of the information I requested (ALL the information about the applications and who made the decisions based upon what criteria, etc.) except to provide me one page photocopies of the (partial) applications with nearly everything redacted except for the actual names of the applicants/grantees, which I had specifically stated that I was NOT asking for! Turns out one was a local judge and the other an active duty military member apparently temporarily stationed on Kauai.
“I also requested any information from the chief of police of Hawaii County (the Big Island) regarding his knowledge of any CCW licenses issued in that county during his 25 years of service (and prior to when the 2000 mandated reporting started, which substantiates zero issued since then),” Pace continued. “He responded that to his knowledge Hawaii County had NEVER issued such a license.”
“Ironically, the Hawaii state constitution, Article I, section 17, reads: ‘A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,’ and is titled ‘Right to BEAR arms’,” Pace elaborated.” The legislators and police department bureaucrats have interpreted that to mean ‘Not one single person in Hawaii may legally bear arms outside their home for self-defense.’”
Pace concluded with an observation that merits special emphasis because it draws on when Hawaii was admitted to the union as a state:
“Oh, and that was passed in 1959 so they weren’t referring to muskets…”
The Founders envisioned a citizen militia, not a “standing army.” (Honolulu PD/DSS)
David Codrea is the winner of multiple journalist awards for investigating/defending the RKBA and a long-time gun owner rights advocate who defiantly challenges the folly of citizen disarmament.
USA – -(Ammoland.com)- “Attorney General Doug Chin joined a coalition of 17 attorneys general in forcefully opposing the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2017, arguing that the ill-conceived legislation would override local public safety decisions and endanger communities and police,” a Monday press release announced. “The legislation (H.R. 38 / S. 446) would force states to recognize concealed carry weapon permits from other states.”
