STAND. COM. REP. NO. 45

                                 Honolulu, Hawaii
                                                   , 1999

                                 RE: H.B. No. 500
                                     H.D. 1




Honorable Calvin K.Y. Say
Speaker, House of Representatives
Twentieth State Legislature
Regular Session of 1999
State of Hawaii

Sir:

     Your Committee on Water and Land Use, to which was referred
H.B. No. 500 entitled: 

     "A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

     The purpose of this bill is to repeal the prohibition for
non-resident aliens to bring firearms into the State provided
that the person has a valid Hawaii hunting license or proof that
the person has been invited to hunt on private land or engage in
target shooting.  

     Your Committee received testimony as follows:

     1.   Department of Land and Natural Resources, Valley Isle
          Sport Shooters, Hawaii Rifle Association, Lessons in
          Firearms Education, Hawaii Hunting Association, Hawaii
          Hunting Advisory Council, Pig Hunters of Hawaii,
          Wildlife Conservation Association of Hawaii, Hawaii
          Citizens' Rights PAC, and two private citizens, in
          support; and 

     2.   Honolulu Police Department, in opposition.

     Your Committee finds that all of Hawaii's game mammals are
non-native and, if left unchecked, pose a considerable threat to
Hawaii's native plants and wildlife.  In Hawaii, as in most other
locations, wildlife officials have found that hunting has
provided an excellent, cost-effective means of controlling
wildlife populations, as well as providing recreation and
subsistence for a large number of residents.  In addition,
hunting and target shooting have become popular visitor
activities and have demonstrated the potential for developement
as tourism niche markets.  

 
                                 STAND. COM. REP. NO. 45
                                 Page 2

 
     Your Committee revised the bill by:  

     1.   Adding a time limit of 60 days; 

     2.   Requiring the firearms to be registered; 

     3.   Adding a shooting preserve permit to the documents
          allowing non-resident firearms; 

     4.   Providing that the registration be non-transferable and
          limited to ten firearms; and 

     5.   Making technical, non-substantive changes for the
          purposes of style and clarity.  

     The changes made by your Committee have satisfied the public
safety concerns of the Honolulu Police Department.  

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your
Committee on Water and Land Use that is attached to this report,
your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B.
No. 500, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second
Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 500, H.D. 1, and
be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

                                   Respectfully submitted on
                                   behalf of the members of the
                                   Committee on Water and Land
                                   Use,



                                   ______________________________
                                   Romy M. Cachola, Chair