Report Title:

Firearms; laws

 

Description:

Increases penalties for certain firearms laws, creates new firearms possession crimes.

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

1625

TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2001

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

RELATING TO FIREARMS POSSESSION LAWS.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

SECTION 1. The legislature finds that many of the most heinous felonies perpetrated upon the citizens of Hawaii are done so with the use of a firearm. The results of these felonies are brutal, and sometimes fatal. The purpose of this Act is to increase the penalties for unlawful possession of firearms in such a way as to qualify for federal grants through the Safe Streets and Neighborhoods Act of 2000 in an effort to reduce crime rates and provide a safer environment for the people of Hawaii.

SECTION 2. Section 134-6, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended to read as follows:

"§134-6 Carrying or use of firearm in the commission of a separate felony; place to keep firearms; loaded firearms; penalty. (a) It shall be unlawful for a person to knowingly carry on the person or have within the person's immediate control or intentionally use or threaten to use a firearm while engaged in the commission of a separate felony, whether the firearm was loaded or not, and whether operable or not; provided that a person shall not be prosecuted under this subsection where the separate felony is:

(1) A felony offense otherwise defined by this chapter, other than §134-7(b);

(2) The felony offense of reckless endangering in the first degree under section 707-713;

(3) The felony offense of terroristic threatening in the first degree under section [707-716(1)(a)], [707-716(1)(b)], and [707-716(1)(d)]; or

(4) The felony offenses of criminal property damage in the first degree under section 708-820 and criminal property damage in the second degree under section 708-821 and the firearm is the instrument or means by which the property damage is caused.

(b) It shall be unlawful for a person to knowingly possess a firearm with the intent to facilitate the commission of a felony offense involving the distribution of a controlled substance, whether the firearm was loaded or not, and whether operable or not.

(c) Except as provided in sections 134-5 and 134-9, all firearms and ammunition shall be confined to the possessor's place of business, residence, or sojourn; provided that it shall be lawful to carry unloaded firearms or ammunition or both in an enclosed container from the place of purchase to the purchaser's place of business, residence, or sojourn, or between these places upon change of place of business, residence, or sojourn, or between these places and the following: a place of repair; a target range; a licensed dealer's place of business; an organized, scheduled firearms show or exhibit; a place of formal hunter or firearm use training or instruction; or a police station. "Enclosed container" means a rigidly constructed receptacle, or a commercially manufactured gun case, or the equivalent thereof that completely encloses the firearm.

(d) It shall be unlawful for any person on any public highway to carry on the person, or to have in the person's possession, or to carry in a vehicle any firearm loaded with ammunition; provided that this subsection shall not apply to any person who has in the person's possession or carries a pistol or revolver and ammunition therefor in accordance with a license issued as provided in section 134-9.

(e) Any person violating subsection (a) or (b) shall be guilty of a class A felony. Any person violating this section by carrying or possessing a loaded firearm or by carrying or possessing a loaded or unloaded pistol or revolver without a license issued as provided in section 134-9 shall be guilty of a class B felony. Any person violating this section by carrying or possessing an unloaded firearm, other than a pistol or revolver, shall be guilty of a class C felony.

A conviction and sentence under subsection (a) or (b) shall be in addition to and not in lieu of any conviction and sentence for the separate felony; provided that the sentence imposed under subsection (a) or (b) [may] shall run [concurrently or] consecutively with the sentence for the separate felony and shall be for a mandatory minimum sentence of not less than five years, except if the previous felony conviction under §134-7(b) did not involve violence, physical harm to the victim, or fear of physical harm on the part of the victim, the mandatory minimum sentence shall be two years."

SECTION 3. Chapter 707, Hawaii Revised Statutes, is amended by adding a new section to be appropriately designated and to read as follows:

"§707- Terroristic Threatening on school grounds. (1) A person commits the offense of terroristic threatening on school grounds if the person:

(a) threatens another person,

(b) on school grounds, inclusive of public walkways immediately adjacent to property boundaries of the school,

(c) with the use of a dangerous instrument.

(2) Terroristic threatening on school grounds is a class felony."

SECTION 4. Statutory material to be repealed is bracketed and stricken. New statutory material is underscored.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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