Even as legislation on guns fails to gain traction at the federal level, Hawaii lawmakers are considering a slew of firearms legislation.
On Wednesday a Hawaii House committee will hear a bill that requires firearms owners who have been disqualified from owning a firearm and ammunition due to mental illness “to immediately surrender” their firearms and ammunition to a chief of police.
That same committee is also expected to hear a measure that allows county police departments to receive notification if a new applicant granted a permit to possess a firearm is arrested for a criminal offense anywhere in the country.
Second Amendment supporters at the State Capitol on opening day of the 2016 session. Cory Lum/Civil Beat
“The Legislature finds that accurate firearm registration records and the sharing of firearm registration records between the counties are critical to ensure the safety of the community,” says the bill.
There are a half-dozen more firearms bills introduced this session, though none have yet to be scheduled for a hearing.
Chad Blair is the Politics and Opinion Editor for Civil Beat. You can reach him by email at cblair@civilbeat.org or follow him on Twitter at @chadblairCB.