STAND. COM. REP. NO.286

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2003

RE: S.B. No. 462

S.D. 1

 

 

Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2003

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations, to which was referred S.B. No. 462 entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to amend the criteria for firearms safety and training courses to ensure that individuals who seek to acquire a handgun complete a course specifically designed for handguns.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Police Department of the City and County of Honolulu. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Hawaii Rifle Association, Lessons in Firearms Education, an instructor certified by the National Rifle Association, and a concerned citizen.

Your Committee finds that since the State authorizes individuals to carry and use guns, we have an obligation to ensure that gun toters are properly trained in safety techniques, for their own safety and for the public safety. Every testifier both for and against this measure agreed on this point.

There was much disagreement at the public hearing, however, about whether a specific handgun training course is necessary, or whether a rifle training course was adequate to instruct individuals to safely use a handgun. Existing law does not differentiate between handgun training and rifle or shotgun training.

After carefully weighing the testimony, your Committee finds that handguns and rifles are different sizes, have different weights, are used in different positions, and are handled differently.

Your Committee is therefore persuaded that there is sufficient difference between handguns and rifles to justify requiring applicants for a handgun permit to undergo a safety course specific to their weapon of choice. Your Committee finds that there are many similarities between handguns and rifles, but the public safety and welfare demands that the State do everything possible to ensure that gun users are properly trained.

Your Committee made several technical, nonsubstantive amendments to this measure for purposes of accuracy and clarity.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of S.B. No. 462, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as S.B. No. 462, S.D. 1, and be referred to the Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation, Military Affairs and Government Operations,

____________________________

CAL KAWAMOTO, Chair