STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1020

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    S.B. No. 621

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

 

Sir:

 

     Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred S.B. No. 621, S.D. 1, entitled:

 

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose and intent of this measure is to require the reporting of lost, stolen, or destroyed firearms to county police and establish penalties for failure to report.

 

     Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the County of Hawaii Mayor's Office and three individuals.  Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Institute for Rational and Evidence-based Legislation, Rook Customs, Hawaii Firearms Coalition, Hawaii Rifle Association, National Rifle Association of America, and 377 individuals.  Your Committee received comments on this measure from two individuals.

 

     Your Committee finds that Hawaii's penal code does not adequately address the reporting of lost, stolen, or destroyed firearms.  Permits to acquire and registration of firearms are required in the State to ensure that firearms do not become available to those who have been disqualified from owning a firearm, such as felons, the seriously mentally ill, and children.

 

     Your Committee further finds that keeping firearms in the hands of authorized owners is vital to Hawaii's public safety.  Your Committee believes that if lost, stolen, and destroyed firearms are properly reported, law enforcement officers can enter this information into the appropriate national and local databases to assist in firearm ownership and possession cases and, ultimately, to enhance public and police officer safety.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 621, S.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Third Reading.

 

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Judiciary,

 

 

 

________________________________

KARL RHOADS, Chair