DON'T FORGET TO SEND IN YOUR TESTIMONIALS BY THIS WEDNESDAY 29-MAR-06.  IT IS ALREADY WRITTEN FOR YOU BELLOW, JUST COPY/PASTE IT AND E-MAIL OR FAX IT IN.  COMPLACENCY IS THE ONLY THING THAT CAN KILL THIS THING NOW.  SO IF YOU KNOW ANYONE WHO SUPPORTS GUNS, HAVE THEM SEND IT IN NOW.

WE HAVE A HEARING!

Thanks to Rep. Ken Ito, Judiciary Chair Sylvia Luke has agreed to hear SB600 SD1, repealing the ban on greater than 10 round magazines, next Thursday, March 30.  The hearing starts at 2pm.  The bill may be later in the agenda, we won't know until next week.  We'll forward that information and tips on parking later.  If the bill passes Judiciary, it will likely pass the whole Legislature and be sent to the Governor for her signature.

The time for e-mails, faxes, phone calls, and petitions, to Legislators is past.  The only things that count now are testimony, properly submitted, and people in support at the hearing.

Submitting testimony is easy.  Just follow the simple format below.  e-mail your to [email protected]  or fax it to 586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS) by next Wednesday, 2pm (24 hrs before the hearing).
==============================================================
March [insert the date you send your testimony], 2006

TESTIMONY ON SB600, HD1, IN STRONG SUPPORT
Before the Committee Judiciary, Honorable Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair
March 30, 2006,  Conference Room 325

Sgt-At-Arms please provide 35 copies

Honorable Chair, Co Chair, and Members,

[You don't need to go into great detail.  Just say why you personally support a repeal in a paragraph or two.  Talking points include:]

I strongly support this bill to bring the state laws on detachable magazines for pistols into agreement with federal law.  It is a housekeeping bill.

The current Hawaii statute is confusing to mainland shippers, local merchants, the public, and law enforcement.  It makes criminals out of law-abiding citizens.

The U.S. Congress allowed the 1994 federal magazine ban to sunset September, 2004 because there was no evidence it was effective in reducing firearms crime.

There is no evidence that Hawaii's version is effective.

There is no provision in Hawaii's statute for possession of pistol magazines of greater than 10 rounds capacity by gun shops or gunsmiths while the blocking devices required by the statute are added.

Hawaii's action pistol shooting clubs can't attract national and international match participants because of our state ban on the magazines used in their sport.  Contestants from Hawaii who travel to mainland competions are handicapped because they cannot practice with magazines over 10 rounds capacity like their fellow sportsmen in 43 other states.

The legal situation with large capacity rifle magazines that fit into some pistol designs is particularly confusing.  The Attorney General is supposed to keep a "non-inclusive" list of those pistols, which are not lawfully possessed or transferred in Hawaii except those grandfathered in 1991.  The 20 and 30 round US military magazines for the M-16/AR-15 rifle are ubiquitous.  We've seen them at the swap meet.  However, because they fit a rare "Bushmaster" pistol, they are unlawful under current Hawaii statute, unless blocked.  However, large capacity magazines for other rifle designs are lawful because there is no handgun manufactured that accepts them.  If a new handgun design that accepts these is marketed on the mainland, even though the pistol can't even be lawfully brought in or possessed in Hawaii, because of Hawaii's "assault pistol" ban, all the rifle magazines in lawful possession in Hawaii that will fit that pistol design suddenly become unlawful, and honest shopkeepers and private citizens in possession of them suddenly become firearms criminals.

There is no reasonable cause for maintaining Hawaii's statute regarding these magazines, and plenty of reasons to amend this section.

Please pass this bill.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

[Add your name, business if you wish, and phone number]

The bill language is identical to www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hb2996_.htm>HB2996 , www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hb2996_.htm


Previous message======

Take note! Please fax testimony (simple text below) and help out!

This is regarding the unnecessary and frustrating 10 round limit on magazines that fit into pistols,

please help by faxing "in support of SB600 Proposed HD1" to get Hawaii freed from such limits.

THE REPEAL OF THE MAGAZINE BAN IS STILL ALIVE

We thought the bill to repeal Hawaii's greater-than-10 round magazine law was dead for the year, but it's not! Ignore that report in the March issue of the HRA Hawaii Rifleman. Rep. Ken Ito will hear it in his Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee (PSM) this Thursday. He inserted it under an old bill title from last year. You can fax testimony by Wed morning "in support of SB600 Proposed HD1" to 586-6501 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859(Neighbor Islands). Indicate it's for the PSM Hearing, Thursday, 8:45, Room 309.

Rep. Ito should be able to pass it from his committee (he passed the same bill earlier). Then it goes to the House Judiciary Committee, where we'll need lots of testimony and people to pass it over the objections of HPD, the Attorney General, and the Prosecutor. We'll send notice of that hearing, which has to be by April 7.

Send any inquiries to Max at [email protected]



---original post---
A bill to lift the greater than 10 round magazine ban has passed its first committee in the Hawaii State Legislature.  Rep. Ken Ito, D, Kaneohe, introduced it, and his committee, Public Safety and Military Affairs, passed it unanimously.  It must now be heard and passed in the House Judiciary Committee by March 3, or it's dead for the year.

HPD testified that more than 10 round magazines are not needed, as target shooting is all 3 or 5 round groups.  

If this bill is going anywhere this year, supporters must contact their own Representatives, and the Chair, Co-chair, and members of the Judiciary Committee NOW. Ask them to give HB2996 a hearing.  Then we need to pack the hearing with bodies and testimony in support.

Representative Sylvia Luke Chair    [email protected]
Representative Blake K. Oshiro Vice-Chair  
[email protected]
Members:
Representative Kirk Caldwell    [email protected]
Representative Ezra R. Kanoho     [email protected]
Representative Jon Riki Karamatsu     [email protected]
Representative Alex M. Sonson     [email protected]
Representative Joseph M. Souki     [email protected]
Representative Barbara C. Marumoto     [email protected]

A copy of the bill is at  www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hb2996_.htm

You can find your own Representative and his or her contact information at:
www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/members/members.asp?press1=house&press2=members

The Hawaii Rifle Association has got it this far, now we need your help to push this thing over the edge.

I've always done my part as a non HRA member.
Wrote to a few members already, without a response.

These are the MAIN points that is needed to be addressed.

The current law has caused mass confussion among everyone, even HPD and ATF.
with the court ruleing an AR-15 mag are in fact RIFLE magazines.

There are just too many RIFLE mags that will also function with a Pistol.

Felonies are being comitted by unknown legal gun owners.

"or any type of ammunition or any projectile component thereof coated with teflon or any other similar coating designed primarily to enhance its capability to penetrate metal or pierce protective armor"

Kinda off topic, but I think its funny they revert to hollywood heresay about coating a bullet with teflon so it will pass through body armor.  Teflon does not make a bullet AP, teflon is used on turned brass or steel projectiles to minimize barrel wear, its the brass or steel projectile that is AP and not the teflon.  Some lawmaker mustve seen Ronin once or twice.

Hon Rep. xxxxxxxx, I urgue your support for this Bill, introduced by Rep. Ken Ito. ( D ).  HB 2996 Repeals section 134-8(c) This bill will repeal the decade old High Capacity Magazine Law. It has proven ineffective and has cause mass confussion among the Hawaii Court System, HPD, and the Federal Agency ATF  (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) as well as Interstate Commerce between the Mainland. Since the old law only pretained to PISTOL magazines and not RIFLES magazines; thus many Sport Rifles were affected as Pistol magazines were interchangable. Reply Requested Thank you for your Support

Quoted: Hon Rep. xxxxxxxx, I urgue your support for this Bill, introduced by Rep. Ken Ito. ( D ).  HB 2996 Repeals section 134-8(c) This bill will repeal the decade old High Capacity Magazine Law. It has proven ineffective and has cause mass confussion among the Hawaii Court System, HPD, and the Federal Agency ATF  (Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms) as well as Interstate Commerce between the Mainland. Since the old law only pretained to PISTOL magazines and not RIFLES magazines; thus many Sport Rifles were affected as Pistol magazines were interchangable. Reply Requested Thank you for your Support

I think a letter like this is probably very confusing to many legislators, especially that last paragraph.  It is also probably a good idea to refer to the current restriction as one on standard capacity magazines, not "high capacity" magazines.  

Quoted: These are the MAIN points that is needed to be addressed. The current law has caused mass confussion among everyone, even HPD and ATF. with the court ruleing an AR-15 mag are in fact RIFLE magazines. There are just too many RIFLE mags that will also function with a Pistol. Felonies are being comitted by unknown legal gun owners.

You want to point out that felonies are being committed by unknown legal gun owners?  

I didn't know there was a court ruling regarding rifle magazines.  Could you provide the case number or a link?  I'd like to read it.

Best of luck guys.

I've heard it was dismissed as it pretained to a gentlemen with a high cap AR-15 magazine.
He got it back from HPD evidence room.

Quoted: Best of luck guys.

+1
Go get em .

Good thing they dont look at my stash of M16 mags (even better the law is interpreted in my favor regarding them).

The bill passed second reading on the floor of the House of Representatives on Friday.  It goes to the Judiciary Committee next.  I voted in favor on Friday. Marilyn B. Lee State Representative District 38, Mililani/Mililani Mauka/Waipio Acres February 19, 2006 12:58 PM To: Rep. Marilyn Lee Subject: HB 2996

Thats my rep!

Hawaii Pro-Gun Legislation On the Move!



Friday, February 24, 2006

House Bill 2996 (Ito, D-48), a measure that would lift the greater than 10 round magazine ban, has passed out of the Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee and is slated to be heard before the House Judiciary Committee.  The deadline to be heard in the committee is Friday March 3, so it is vital that NRA members contact the Chair, the Co-Chair and full Judiciary Committee members, and ask that they hear the bill before the deadline.  It is also important that members of the pro-gun community testify in person before the committee!  

If you want immediate e-mail notification of the hearing (if the bill is scheduled to be heard), please contact Max Cooper of the Hawaii Rifle Association at [email protected].  For a list of Judiciary Committee contact information, please visit the NRA-ILA Hawaii state update at: www.NRAILA.org.

I am I reading this right that this bill was introduced by a Democrat?

Quoted: I am I reading this right that this bill was introduced by a Democrat?

Believe it or not, a very, very, very small percentage of them do have a lick of sense.  Ive met one so far that did, but he was a Texan so that explained everything.

Any updates?

Take note! Please fax testimony (simple text below) and help out!

This is regarding the unnecessary and frustrating 10 round limit on magazines that fit into pistols,

please help by faxing "in support of SB600 Proposed HD1" to get Hawaii freed from such limits.

THE REPEAL OF THE MAGAZINE BAN IS STILL ALIVE

We thought the bill to repeal Hawaii's greater-than-10 round magazine law was dead for the year, but it's not!  Ignore that report in the March issue of the HRA Hawaii Rifleman.  Rep. Ken Ito will hear it in his Public Safety and Military Affairs Committee (PSM) this Thursday.  He inserted it under an old bill title from last year.  You can fax testimony by Wed morning "in support of SB600 Proposed HD1" to 586-6501 (Oahu) or 1-800-535-3859(Neighbor Islands).  Indicate it's for the PSM Hearing, Thursday, 8:45, Room 309.  

Rep. Ito should be able to pass it from his committee (he passed the same bill earlier).  Then it goes to the House Judiciary Committee, where we'll need lots of testimony and people to pass it over the objections of HPD, the Attorney General, and the Prosecutor.  We'll send notice of that hearing, which has to be by April 7.  

Send any inquiries to Max at [email protected]

Dragonfly,
 Thanks for the update!!!

Dragonfly,

     Keep us updated as to when the hearing is going to be so we can all go down there.....

That's awesome news.

Too bad the carry bills went nowhere.

3/21/2006 H Reported from the committee on PSM (Stand. Com. Rep. No. 1068-06) as amended in (HD 1), recommending passage on Second Reading and referral to the committee on JUD.

www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus2.asp?billno=SB600

--

Here's are exerpts from the PSM committee report:

The purpose of this measure as proposed to be amended is to repeal the prohibition against the manufacture, possession, sale, or acquisition of detachable pistol ammunition magazines with a capacity in excess of ten rounds.

[snip]

Your Committee recognizes that, while the intent of the existing prohibition on higher capacity magazines is laudable, it should be noted that only law-abiding citizens appear to comply with this law. In contrast, criminals, who do not have the same respect for the law, are able to gain access to higher capacity magazines and use them to commit crimes.

Your Committee believes that law-abiding citizens should not be put at a comparative disadvantage and that repealing the prohibition on higher capacity magazines will improve the ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and their families. Your Committee also notes that, in 2004, the federal government repealed its prohibition on magazines with a capacity in excess of ten rounds.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety & Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 600, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 600, H.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/commreports/sb600_hd1_hscr1068-06_.htm

Your Committee recognizes that, while the intent of the existing prohibition on higher capacity magazines is laudable, it should be noted that only law-abiding citizens appear to comply with this law. In contrast, criminals, who do not have the same respect for the law, are able to gain access to higher capacity magazines and use them to commit crimes. Your Committee believes that law-abiding citizens should not be put at a comparative disadvantage and that repealing the prohibition on higher capacity magazines will improve the ability of law-abiding citizens to defend themselves and their families. Your Committee also notes that, in 2004, the federal government repealed its prohibition on magazines with a capacity in excess of ten rounds.

I can only hope that common sense like this continues to pervade its way into the rest of America.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Max Cooper <[email protected]>
Date: Mar 22, 2006 9:08 PM
Subject: HRA Legislative Alert
To: [email protected]

Al, please forward to our e-mail alert list:

WE HAVE A HEARING!

Thanks to Rep. Ken Ito, Judiciary Chair Sylvia Luke has agreed to hear SB600 SD1, repealing the ban on greater than 10 round magazines,

next Thursday, March 30.  The hearing starts at 2pm.

The bill may be later in the agenda, we won't know until next week.  We'll forward that information and tips on parking later.  If the bill passes Judiciary, it will likely pass the whole Legislature and be sent to the Governor for her signature.  

The time for e-mails, faxes, phone calls, and petitions, to Legislators is past.  The only things that count now are testimony, properly submitted, and people in support at the hearing.

Submitting testimony is easy.  Just follow the simple format below.  e-mail your to [email protected]  or fax it to
586-6501 (OAHU) OR 1-800-535-3859 (NEIGHBOR ISLANDS) by next Wednesday, 2pm (24 hrs before the hearing).


March [insert the date you send your testimony], 2006

TESTIMONY ON SB600, HD1, IN STRONG SUPPORT
Before the Committee Judiciary, Honorable Representative Sylvia Luke, Chair
March 30, 2006,  Conference Room 325

Sgt-At-Arms please provide 35 copies

Honorable Chair, Co Chair, and Members,

[You don't need to go into great detail.  Just say why you personally support a repeal in a paragraph or two.  Talking points include:]

I strongly support this bill to bring the state laws on detachable magazines for pistols into agreement with federal law.  It is a housekeeping bill.

The current Hawaii statute is confusing to mainland shippers, local merchants, the public, and law enforcement.  It makes criminals out of law-abiding citizens.

The U.S. Congress allowed the 1994 federal magazine ban to sunset September, 2004 because there was no evidence it was effective in reducing firearms crime.

There is no evidence that Hawaii's version is effective.

There is no provision in Hawaii's statute for possession of pistol magazines of greater than 10 rounds capacity by gun shops or gunsmiths while the blocking devices required by the statute are added.

Hawaii's action pistol shooting clubs can't attract national and international match participants because of our state ban on the magazines used in their sport.  Contestants from Hawaii who travel to mainland competions are handicapped because they cannot practice with magazines over 10 rounds capacity like their fellow sportsmen in 43 other states.

The legal situation with large capacity rifle magazines that fit into some pistol designs is particularly confusing.  The Attorney General is supposed to keep a "non-inclusive" list of those pistols, which are not lawfully possessed or transferred in Hawaii except those grandfathered in 1991.  The 20 and 30 round US military magazines for the M-16/AR-15 rifle are ubiquitous.  We've seen them at the swap meet.  However, because they fit a rare "Bushmaster" pistol, they are unlawful under current Hawaii statute, unless blocked.  However, large capacity magazines for other rifle designs are lawful because there is no handgun manufactured that accepts them.  If a new handgun design that accepts these is marketed on the mainland, even though the pistol can't even be lawfully brought in or possessed in Hawaii, because of Hawaii's "assault pistol" ban, all the rifle magazines in lawful possession in Hawaii that will fit that pistol design suddenly become unlawful, and honest shopkeepers and private citizens in possession of them suddenly become firearms criminals.

There is no reasonable cause for maintaining Hawaii's statute regarding these magazines, and plenty of reasons to amend this section.

Please pass this bill.

Thank you for the opportunity to testify.

[Add your name, business if you wish, and phone number]



The bill language is identical to HB2996 ,
www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/bills/hb2996_.htm

Contact me for help or questions.  See you at the Legislature.

Max

BUMP

Read above or at top for message

We may just kick this reduced capacity magazine ban.

I did my part. Others please write.....

Prayers sent .

My tourism dollars are riding on this guys best of luck .

From Max Cooper:

The bill to repeal the greater than 10 round capacity magazine law is scheduled for a hearing: Thursday, March 30, 2pm, Room 325 It's 12th on the agenda, but we expect the hearing to go quickly, so suggest you arrive at 2pm. Please send your testimony in by 2 pm tomorrow (Wednesday, 03/29). Limited metered parking is available under the Capitol building.  There is a nearby municipal lot on the corner of Pali and Beretania.  Also, there is usually metered space under the DLNR building across Punchbowl from the Capitol. Representative Ito advises that the Judiciary Leadership is inclined to pass the bill, and suggests that those in favor, when your name is called to testify, simply state, "I stand on my written testimony in support."  Then remain for any questions from the committee. The bill preceding, on HRS 134, is a "housekeeping" bill for the administration which does not affect private owners.  HRA has no position on it so long as it remains "clean". See you there.  Contact me for questions or help. Thanks, Max The hearing notice is at:   www.capitol.hawaii.gov/sessioncurrent/HearingNotices/JUD_03-30-06_.htm

Please be sure to get your testimony submitted (correctly, see my previous post) by tomorrow at 2pm!

Good luck!

Rep Ito sounds like a stand up legislator

The only opposition was HPD and the AGO.
For those that stayed for the Decision ( Cooper, Harvey ), please post outcome.

Well, here's the BAD NEWS (unless I'm not reading something right):

3/30/2006 H The votes in JUD were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) B. Oshiro; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Luke; 6 Noes: Representative(s) Caldwell, Kanoho, Morita, Sonson, Marumoto, Thielen; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Karamatsu, Souki; and the recommendation to pass with amendments failed.

www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus2.asp?billno=SB600

Just found this http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/getstatus2.asp?billno=SB600 Don't look good

Where can we find oral arguments and testimonies?  Same site?  Anyone know?

This is interesting, here's the committee:

www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/house/comm/commJUD.asp?press1=house&press2=comm

Notice the Chair and Vice Chair voted in favor, and the rest of the committee voted against.

Ahh Crap.
The Hawaiian Liberals
Im surprised (R) SLOM voted Noe in the Senate.

This is from Max Cooper:

The magazine bill, SB600, SD1, died an ugly second death after Herculean efforts by Rep. Ken Ito to resuscitate it.  In the last Legislative Report, March 2006 we reported the magazine repeal bill, HB2996, dead for lack of a hearing in Judiciary.  Rep. Ken Ito found a Senate firearms bill from last year, gutted it, inserted the language from HB2996, and passed it through his committee.  The bill was heard in Judiciary March 30, and was expected to pass, as the Jud Chair and Co-Chair, Reps Luke and Oshiro, were favorable.  In an unprecedented vote against them, committee members voted no and killed the bill. The votes in JUD were as follows: 2 Ayes: Representative(s) B. Oshiro; Ayes with reservations: Representative(s) Luke; 6 Noes: Representative(s) Caldwell, Kanoho, Morita, Sonson, Marumoto, Thielen; and 2 Excused: Representative(s) Karamatsu, Souki; and the recommendation to pass with amendments failed. Rep. Alex Sonson, D, Waipahu, led the negative questioning on “clips”, demonstrating freely his lack of information on the whole subject.  The Hawaii Supreme Court had suspended state Rep. Sonson, a Waipahu attorney and former Marine, from practicing law for three months for committing numerous ethical violations, including misappropriating a client's funds.  Sonson paid some lip service to the many IPSC shooters in his district by asking if any other states with magazine bans (there are only 6 besides Hawaii) had exemptions for competitors.  They do not, but the Attorney General’s representative had no clue, as it’s obvious he knows nothing about firearms.  He characterized the Glock handgun as a German design, a disappointment to Austrian inventor Gaston Glock, I’m sure.  Only the AG’s office and HPD testified against the bill.  There was a respectable showing of a dozen supporters at the hearing and several dozen others sent testimony in support. Rep. Kirk Caldwell, D, Manoa, competed with the AG’s spokesperson for ignorance on gun issues, asking if “round” means “bullet”.  The AG’s office assured him that is so, apparently ignorant of the proper term, cartridge.  Caldwell likewise pursued negative question lines with testifiers. HPD’s Major finally made a concession that some shooting sports use the standard magazine sizes, although he is not familiar with those disciplines. The two RINO’s (Republican In Name Only) voted no.  Theilen’s opposition was no surprise, as she’s never seen a firearms ban she didn’t like, but Barbara Marumoto, R, Kaimuki, Waialae, sometimes pretends to support gun rights. This one should have gone.  We’ll try again next year.  Thanks to all those who lobbied for it.  You were effective in appropriate numbers on this issue.  All House members are up for re-election this year.

Looks like we need to vote in some real Republicans.

Why not kick out the Dems first?

Quoted: Why not kick out the Dems first?

Both positive votes were from democrats.  Both republicans on the committee voted no.

Sounds trite but I hope you guys vote for the person, not the label.

Quoted: Quoted: Why not kick out the Dems first? Both positive votes were from democrats.  Both republicans on the committee voted no. Sounds trite but I hope you guys vote for the person, not the label.

Well see Hawaii is mostly Democrat so you have to kick the anti gun Dems out for anything to pass along with the RINOs of course.

My point really is there were only 2 Repubs on the whole comittee so no matter how they vote, they are neutralized by the overwhelming number of Dems.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Why not kick out the Dems first? hr Both positive votes were from democrats.  Both republicans on the committee voted no. Sounds trite but I hope you guys vote for the person, not the label. Well see Hawaii is mostly Democrat so you have to kick the anti gun Dems out for anything to pass along with the RINOs of course. My point really is there were only 2 Repubs on the whole comittee so no matter how they vote, they are neutralized by the overwhelming number of Dems.

But the two Republicans still voted no. I'm not big on voting for Political Parties. Look at the issues each individual supports. I know plenty of pro-gun Democrats, and plenty of anti-gun Republicans. Vote issues, not parties.