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Home My WebLink About2019-02-12 Letter to Gregg Takayama HB 1543 Relating to Gun Violence Protective Orders, HB 1486 Relating to Guns and HB 720 Relating to FirearmsHarry Kim Mayor County of Hawai i Office of the Mayor Wil Okabe Managing Director Barbara J. Kossow Deputy Managing Director 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • (808) 961-8211 • Fax (808) 961-6553 KONA: 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., Bldg C • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 (808) 323-4444 • Fax (808) 323-4440 February 12, 2019 Representative Gregg Takayama, Chair Committee on Public Safety, Veterans, and Military Affairs Dear Chair Takayama and Committee Members: RE: HB1543 Relating to Gun Violence Protective Orders HB 1486 Relating to Guns HB 720 Relating to Firearms Three bills on today's agenda deal with gun rights and gun safety. I thank you for scheduling them for hearing, and hope you will be able to approve them. HB1543 would provide for protective orders, a concept that has gotten much national attention in recent months. The idea has grown out of the need to curb the gun violence that has become so prevalent in the United States, and as the Preamble to HB 1543 correctly points out, to which Hawaii is not immune. While there are details in HB 1543 that are beyond my expertise, it appears to me that the authors have drawn a fair and proper balance between the rights of gun owners, and society's interest in safety. HB 1486 would require a person to take a training or safety course before getting a permit to carry. I have no doubt that someone will find this too onerous a restriction on their right to bear arms, but I would argue that it is a perfectly reasonable obligation to impose. HB 720 would require that lost or stolen firearms be reported. While this provision might be of limited value, since enforcement would depend upon a showing that the individual knew a firearm was missing, it is perfectly reasonable that an obligation to report be mandated, and gun owners will be aware of the expectations that are placed upon them. I urge you to act favorably on HB 1543, HB 1486, and HB 720. Respectfully Submitted,' arry Kim MAYOR County of Hawai`i is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.