STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1383

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.B. No. 720

H.D. 1

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirtieth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2019

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs, to which was referred H.B. No. 720, H.D. 1, entitled:

"A BILL FOR AN ACT RELATING TO FIREARMS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to strengthen the system of firearm reporting in the State by requiring firearm owners to report lost, stolen, or destroyed firearms.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the City and County of Honolulu Police Department, County of Hawai‘i Office of the Mayor, and one individual. Your Committee received testimony in opposition to this measure from the Hawaii Firearms Coalition, National Rifle Association of America, Ho‘omanapono Political Action Committee, Institute for Rational and Evidence-based Legislation, and twenty-nine individuals.

Your Committee finds that the State requires the permitting and registration of firearms for public safety reasons. Your Committee further finds that existing law does not adequately address the reporting of lost, stolen, or destroyed firearms, and that law enforcement officers should have an accurate record of lost, stolen, or destroyed firearms to protect the public and themselves.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee is in accord with the intent and purpose of H.B. No. 720, H.D. 1, and recommends that it pass Second Reading and be referred to your Committee on Judiciary.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Military Affairs,

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CLARENCE K. NISHIHARA, Chair