State and Local:
HPD Chief Boisse Correia’s 5-year contract is up for renewal this year in August. He has sufficient time in service to retire. He has indicated his desire to be re-appointed. A survey of SHOPO members indicated a large majority of HPD rank and file think his contract should not be renewed. HRA agrees. The Honolulu Police Commission appoints and may remove the Chief. Its seven members are appointed by the Mayor and approved by the City Council. http://www.honolulupd.org/abouthpd/hpc.htm The Chair, Christine H. Camp, may be contacted at: Honolulu Police Commission, 1060 Richards St., Suite 170, Honolulu, HI 96813, or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Other members are:
· Keith Y. Amemiya – Vice Chair
· Helen H. Hamada – Member
· Benjamin S. Saguibo – Member
· Max J. Sword – Member
· Marc C. Tilker – Member
· Craig Y. Watase – Member
Chief Correia is a career-long proponent of severe restrictions on private ownership of firearms. His office is often the main source of anti-gun legislation at our legislature and county police administrative policy designed to discourage the law-abiding citizen from acquiring firearms. His representatives represent his restrictive policy in testimony at the Legislature against any reforms to HRS 134 firearms statutes.
The Hawaii State Legislature is in its fourth quarter and will adjourn May 7, 2009, unless they go into overtime.
Thanks to our supportive Legislators there, the bad bills are dead and 3 good ones we like are alive and passing so far. SB532 and SB350, both Castle Doctrine, stand-your-ground bills, are passing in the form we like, thanks to Senate and House Judiciary Chairs, Sens. Brian Taniguchi and Rep. Jon Riki Karamatsu. SB532 gives immunity against civil suit to a home occupant who acts justifiably. SB350 eliminates the duty to retreat from an attack in public. The bills will have to run one more gauntlet, conference committee, where select Senate and House members meet to discuss bills passing both houses. It’s like a poker game at that point, with issues as chips. The public may attend, but no public testimony is taken.
DLNR’s Recreational Renaissance package, a $250 million plan to expand and upgrade state parks, trails, and boating facilities, including 2 new shooting ranges, one on Kauai and one in West Hawaii, is alive. It did not get out of committee in the Senate, but is inserted into a minor bill already passed by the Senate, SB636. It has to pass the House finance committee once more and then goes to conference committee.
SB478, Sen. Sam Slom’s bill to further prevent government from seizing lawfully possessed and carried firearms during a natural disaster like Katrina, died a tricky death in the House Public Safety Committee. HRA hopes to resurrect it next year.
Federal:
The Obama administration continues to avoid direct confrontation with gun rights supporters. Administrative activity, maneuvering in Congress on guns in federal parks, a PR campaign against “assault” weapons, and statements by some cabinet members, all signal that very sweeping anti-gun legislation lies just under the surface at our nation’s capitol. Pro-gun organizations like NRA, HRA, and CCRKBA are using these skirmishes to promote membership, boost fundraising, and awaken apathy.
