kage genin
Member
This is looking like a trend that's catching on nationwide! I hope California is next! 
From Hawaii Reporter:
From Hawaii Reporter:
Hawaii's Women Fighting Against Violence Will Support Concealed Carry Bill Pending in State Legislature
Hearing on 'Shall Issue' Bill Set for Tuesday, Valentine's Day, at 3 p.m. at the Hawaii State Capitol
By Malia Zimmerman, 2/13/2006 1:22:51 AM
An 18-year-old college student attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa was walking near the school’s campus last Spring at 9 p.m. when five men she did not know snatched her off the sidewalk, dragged her into their car and viciously beat and raped her. The gang initiation-like attack followed a series of rapes in the area, including one of an 85-year-old woman, who was tied up and raped at knifepoint by a bigger, stronger, younger man with prior sex assault convictions.
In a recent case on the Big Island, a mother with two young children, pregnant in her third trimester with her third child, was beaten until she was near death by her boyfriend. Doctors delivered the infant, but could not save the young mother who was taken off of life support just hours after delivering the baby, because she was declared brain dead.
Just last week on the West Side of Oahu a 21-year-old woman was murdered by her 39-year-old boyfriend, who beat her to death with a hammer before stabbing himself. Though the couple had what those close to them called a "stormy relationship," family members say they had no idea the boyfriend was capable of the fatal assault.
These are just four examples of innocent women in Hawaii who were viciously attacked, raped and murdered, by men who overpowered them -- women who never had the chance to call 9-1-1 for help -- women who could not have been protected by police in time to prevent their attack even if they had the opportunity to pick up the phone, dial 9-1-1, be routed to a police dispatcher, and explain their situation and whereabouts. Unfortunately, Hawaii’s law enforcement say, the cases of violence against women are not rare.
A group of local women say they will fight against such violent acts -- not with a demonstration or protest -- but with legislation they plan to endorse. They are spending this Tuesday, Feb. 14, their Valentine's Day, at a hearing at the Hawaii State Capitol, where they will ask state lawmakers to pass a bill that allows law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm for protection.
The bill, introduced by Sen. Sam Slom, R-Hawaii Kai, mandates Hawaii’s four county police chiefs "Shall Issue" concealed carry permits to law-abiding citizens who request them. Currently, Hawaii law says police chiefs "May Issue" concealed carry permits, which enables the four police chiefs -- who are for stricter gun laws and against concealed carry -- complete leeway in who they issue a permit to and who they do not.
Dr. Max Cooper, spokesperson for the Hawaii Rifle Association, says despite numerous applications from a variety of citizens -- including firearms instructors and victims of violence -- Hawaii’s county police chiefs have refused to issue concealed carry permits. He says the existing law needs to be amended slightly so people can protect themselves with firearms if they are attacked out of their home. Especially with increasing violent crime, home break-ins, property crime and illegal drug use of "Ice" known to make criminals stronger and more violent.
Hawaii is one of only 13 states that does not have a "Shall Issue" law for concealed carry.
Cooper, who is encouraging all citizens who believe in the Second Amendment and who want to support the concealed carry bill, to testify on Tuesday, says the law, if implemented, will lower crime in Hawaii.
"Hawaii's strict gun control laws discourage law-abiding citizens from possessing firearms, and result in higher crime rates. If Hawaii passed a non-discretionary carry law, there would be fewer murders, rapes, robberies, and assaults reported annually, statewide. Suffering of victims and their families, dollars lost to medical care and loss of productivity, and the justice system burden would be proportionately reduced. There is no down side," Cooper says.
Second Amendment advocates complain that Hawaii’s county police are so anti-Second Amendment, they so far have refused to implement a federal law passed two years ago, which says all retired police officers who served on the force for 10 or more years, must be issued a concealed carry permit if they apply. The four police chiefs passed off their obligation to implement the law to the state attorney general, who says Hawaii is working on implementing a training and certification program. However, several of Hawaii’s retired police officers told Hawaii Reporter that the state is "dragging its feet" in implementing the federal law and so far has refused to even let its own retired police officers to obtain concealed carry permits.
Alan Gottlieb, founder of the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms, says 37 other state governments have granted their citizens the right to keep and bear arms, something more Americans -- including those in Hawaii -- are pushing for in the wake of the Sept 11, 2001, terrorist attack on America and the looting and violence that occurred in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina.
A recent Gallup poll shows the greatest decline of public confidence in law enforcement in 10 years, which Gottlieb says largely explains why a growing number of Americans are arming themselves for protection against criminals.
Gallup's annual Crime Poll was conducted in mid-October with Gallup randomly contacting 1,012 adults across the United States. Results revealed that confidence in the ability of police to protect people from violent crime slipped from 61 percent in 2004 to 53 percent in 2005. Although there are many dedicated men and women in law enforcement; their ranks are stretched thin, and that they cannot be everywhere at once, Gottlieb says.
He adds the poll results are understandable in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, where thousands of Americans were left to fend for themselves in an environment of looting and more serious crime. "Americans witnessed on national television why it is so important for them to be able to take care of themselves, their families, and their property. They are buying firearms and learning how to use them," Gottlieb says.
In addition, Gottlieb says citizens across the country are learning that myriad gun laws have not made them safer: "They're no longer falling for the promises of the gun control crowd that the police will protect them, so they shouldn't own a gun. And you can bet they will fight for their right to keep that firearm."
Three bills relating to firearms will be heard on Feb. 14, 2006, in the Senate Intergovernmental Affairs and Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs committees. Those include SB 2531 RELATING TO FIREARMS, which authorizes chiefs of police to issue licenses to carry a concealed firearm; SB 2532 RELATING TO FIREARMS, which allows retired law enforcement officers to be issued a concealed carry permit, and SB 2533 RELATING TO FIREARMS, which preempts any and all ordinances, resolutions or motions, or administrative action of any county or county agency relating to firearms. Persons wishing to testify should submit 35 copies of their testimony to the committee clerk, Room 215, State Capitol, 24 hours prior to the hearing and include your name, position/title, organization, contact information, position on the measure, the hearing date, bill title and committee to which your testimony should be referred. Please submit your handwritten or typed testimony on one side of 8-1/2 x 11-inch paper with 1-inch margins. Testimony may also be faxed if less than 5 pages in length, to the Senate Sergeant-At-Arms Office at 586-6659 or 1-800-586-6659 (toll free for neighbor islands), at least 24 hours prior to the hearing. When faxing, please indicate to whom the testimony is being submitted, the date and time of the hearing, and the required number of copies needed for submittal. If you require special assistance or auxiliary aids or services to participate in the public hearing process (i.e., sign language interpreter, wheelchair accessibility, or parking designated for the disabled) please contact the committee clerk 24 hours prior to the hearing so arrangements can be made. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL THE COMMITTEE CLERK AT 586-6230. Full copies of the bills are available at: http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/site1/docs/docs.asp?press1=docs
Reach Malia Zimmerman, editor and president of Hawaii Reporter, via email at mailto:[email protected]
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