Back to Hawaii News index

Posted: Friday, March 15th, 2013 9:26 AM HST

Hawai`i Legislature advances last gun control bill

By Associated Press

HONOLULU (AP) — The State House Committee on Public Safety is moving forward a bill to require background checks for people who bring in guns from outside the state. The bill is the last surviving gun control proposal this legislative session, which started just weeks after the shooting deaths of 20 children in Connecticut forced the issue of gun violence onto the national agenda. Hawai`i lawmakers responded by introducing proposals to start a gun buyback program, limit the sale of ammunition to lawful gun owners and increase background checks for people with mental health issues. But all of those proposals have failed in response to hundreds of opponents largely organized by the Hawai`i Rifle Association. Many see Hawai`i's existing firearm laws as extremely restrictive and fear further limits on their Second Amendment rights.