Honorable Robert Bunda

President of the Senate

Twenty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2004

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 2024, H.D. 1, entitled:

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to prohibit a person restrained by court order from transferring ownership of a firearm while the court order is in effect.

Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the County of Maui, Honolulu Police Department, County of Hawaii Police Department, Domestic Violence Clearinghouse and Legal Hotline, Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, League of Women Voters of Hawaii, Turning Point for Families, and Hale Lokomaika'i, Women Helping Women. Testimony in opposition to this measure was submitted by the Office of the Public Defender, Hawaii Rifle Association, and four individuals.

Your Committee finds that although the law requires individuals restrained by court order to remove firearms from their control by sale, surrender, or transfer, some individuals retain control over their firearms by transferring them to friends and relatives who allow them access to the firearms. Your Committee believes that this measure will prevent this type of transfer of ownership from occurring and help promote greater safety for victims of domestic violence.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 2024, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be placed on the calendar for Third Reading.