Alphecca

Hawaii: The People Can't Be Trusted With CCW

Hawaii is a "may issue" state. Actually it's a "no issue" state. No one has been issued a permit to conceal carry in 15 years! I'm going to quote both the editor's note and the first part of the op-ed from this Hawaii Reporter story:

Editor's note: Two bills that would allow concealed carry and open carry of a firearm in Hawaii were deferred and held in the state Senate last week. Hawaii has a may issue law, which allows police chiefs of the state's four counties, total power to decide who gets a permit to carry and who does not. In the last 15 years, police testified at a recent hearing that no one has been granted a permit allowing them to carry a firearm - not domestic violence victims, not those whose life has been threatened, not even retired police officers. Lawmakers say they don't have any plans to change the law this year so that the chiefs would have to issue a permit unless the applicant is not mentally competent or has a criminal record. A total of 38 states allow their citizens to carry a firearm for protection.

[Writes columnist Jeffrey Domingcil:]

I am a Federal Police Officer, a U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Boarding Team Member with a Tactical Counter-Terrorism Unit, a Self-defense and Firearms Instructor, a Use of Force and Deadly Force Instructor, a Chaminade University Criminal Justice Graduate Student, and a local born resident of Honolulu, Hawaii ... yet it is illegal for me to carry a concealed firearm in Hawaii.

[...]

With the problem of the ever-rising use of the illegal drug Crystal Meth or"ICE" and increasing violent criminal activity throughout Hawaii, it's about time that the State of Hawaii allows its people to defend themselves immediately when criminals attempt to violently hurt them and those they love.

Hawaii law prevents law-abiding citizens from carrying self-defense weapons, yet criminals are not deterred in carrying guns and knives, which are obtained through the black market and other criminal means, to commit crimes easier and effectively.

A 51-year-old disabled woman living in Honolulu told lawmakers that she did not appreciate the Honolulu police chief’s advice - that she should "turn and run," rather than aim and shoot - if someone tries to attack her. "With the rise of violent crime here on Oahu, I want passage of this bill so I can protect myself from physical danger ... ."

Teresa Ward says she supports the bill because women are often the victims of violent crime, often initiated in parking lots at the mall or grocery store. "A concealed carry permit will allow me to legally carry a weapon for protection, enabling me to live my life with less fear of being victimized," Ward says.

Jeanne Bennett says she used to be opposed to the usage of firearms, that was until she became a victim several times over and now supports such a measure. "Over the course of 20 years, a rape, two break-ins into my car, a stolen car, and one attempted break-in into my home, changed me a little," she said in testimony.

John Sherman, a Kaneohe resident, says he has three kids who he wants to protect, especially in light of increased gang activity and ice usage in the state, which is why he supports concealed carry.

The bill and two others that would further the Second Amendment rights of Hawaii citizens, including retired police officers and law abiding citizens in the aftermath of a disaster, were opposed by the Honolulu police, the Honolulu City Prosecutor and the state attorney general.

Spokespeople for these government agencies said they did not trust the people to aim correctly under a stressful situation where they might use a firearm to protect themselves, potentially endangering others nearby. Lori Nishimura of the City Prosecutors office, said she had a "feeling" and she "believed" that allowing citizens to protect themselves with firearms would not be good for the rest of Hawaii’s citizens, though she could not cite any studies or evidence under questioning to support her statements.