Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-First State Legislature

Regular Session of 2002

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary, to which was referred H.B. No. 1999 entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to repeal the sunset provision of the law allowing the carrying of unconcealed pistols and revolvers for hunting.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Hawaii Rifle Association, Hawaii Citizens' Rights PAC, Libertarian Party of Hawaii, and an individual. Testimony in opposition was received from one individual.

Act 254, Session Laws of Hawaii (SLH) 1997, relating to hunting, enacted an amendment to section 134-5, Hawaii Revised Statutes, to allow a person to carry unconcealed and use a lawfully acquired pistol or revolver while actually engaged in hunting game animals, if the weapon and ammunition are acceptable for hunting in accordance with DLNR rules and the person is a licensed hunter. The repeal date was June 30, 2000, which was extended to June 30, 2002, by Act 96, SLH 2000. The purpose of the sunset date was to provide a trial period and to allow the DLNR time to implement rules. According to testimony of the DLNR, it has adopted rules and has not had any safety incidences to date. The DLNR also noted that handgun hunting is legal in 48 other states.

Your Committee has amended this measure to correct an error in the amendatory language in section 1, which would render the measure defective unless corrected.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 1999, as amended herein, and recommends that it pass Second Reading in the form attached hereto as H.B. No. 1999, S.D. 1, and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.