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Posted: Friday, February 16th, 2007 5:16 AM HST

Hawaii firearm permits jump in 2005

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) _ Hawaii firearm permit applications jumped 27 percent to hit a record high in 2005. That's the latest year for which data is available. Gun retailers say more people have been seeking to own guns amid the surge in crystal methamphetamine related crimes. Dale Hayama is the owner of Young Guns in Mapunapuna. He says owning a firearm helps some people feel a secure. The state processed more than 86-hundred firearm permit applications in 2005 _ up 27 percent from the year before. That's the highest number since the state began keeping count in 2000. The Hawaii methamphetamine trade has suffered in recent years, however, as federal and local authorities have broken up some drug rings and seized drug shipments. Seventy-one pounds of meth were seized and 413 arrests were made on Oahu from January to November last year, down from the 188 pounds seized and 719 arrests made in 2005. (Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved)