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BRUCE ASATO / JUNE 2010
A few examples of semi-automatic handguns sit ready to be loaded and fired in the Hawaii Rifle Association’s Shooting sports fair at the Koko Head shooting range.
A 12-year-old on Maui accidentally shot his own leg with a .22 caliber rifle in January 2014.
This incident accounts for the only unintentional shooting involving a minor in Hawaii during a two-and-a-half year period tracked by The Associated Press and the USA Today Network.
The boy was treated at a local hospital and released shortly after.
Hawaii had a rate of less than one shooting per 1 million people for these two-and-a-half years — well below the national average of 3.39 incidents per million, and one of the lowest accidental shooting rates for children in the country.
Alaska led the nation with a rate of 19 incidents per million people.
Rhode Island, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia had no accidental shootings involving minors, according to the data. Massachusetts and Connecticut had several cases, but came in at a lower rate than Hawaii. All other states had a higher rate.
Harvey Gerwig, president of Hawaii Rifle Association, said his organization was pleased by Hawaii’s position.
“We as an association are delighted to be on the bottom of the pile in this one,” Gerwig said. He said the rifle association was “all about” training people for the safe use of firearms, adding it puts significant funds and time into high school shooting programs.
He said, however, the state should provide more public shooting ranges where recreational shooters may practice firing their weapons safely.
State Sen. Will Espero said Hawaii’s gun laws helped reduce firearm accidents. He pointed to rules requiring background checks and a waiting period between when a permit to purchase a gun is acquired and when a gun is registered as examples. Guns brought to Hawaii from other states must also be registered with local law enforcement, he added.
“We do have very strict gun laws in Hawaii. So we probably don’t have a lot of unregistered guns or illegal guns in the hands of families or in households, for starters,” Espero said.
There’s also what Espero called “an education component.” Hawaii’s laws require gun owners to be informed on the storage and proper handling of guns, he said.
Espero said he suspects Hawaii will continue to have relatively few accidents involving minors and guns for these reasons.
I think everyone can agree this is a great statistic.
I agree. This is how it should be. We don’t need to take guns away, we just need to use common sense.
Hawaii doesn’t take guns away but It is not that easy to just get a gun. I am glad it is not easy to get a gun.
haaa, that’s what you think! Guns get stolen and/or mailed to HI from the mainland and other countries all the time. The only people that can’t easily get guns in Hi are those trying to get them legally. Criminals already have guns but law abiding citizens can’t get one without going through a massive maze of nonsense.
A good statistic for Hawaii. Like Harvey Gerwig, president of Hawaii Rifle Association says “the state should provide more public shooting ranges where recreational shooters may practice firing their weapons safely”. It’s best that people with firearms have a good place to shoot them safely.
great news for firearms owners as well as for children.
Hope it stays this way.
Any numbers on gun owners in Hawaii doing the murder/suicide thing?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_in_the_United_States_by_state
There’s a reason why we have lower murder rates which includes gun related murders despite the higher than average gun ownership in HI compared other states, we don’t have millions of illegals from South of the border or the gangs and hard drugs that come with them as a turn-key package!
I believe the mandatory safety class in order to obtain a permit to acquire a handgun plays an important part in firearm safety……
Less firearms,less kids shootings. We in Hawaii don’t need firearms. Fear mongers in the other states are shooting each other in the dark. Lol.
We? Who’s we? Fine, feel that way. I won’t ever use my gun to defend you in the event one of your so called “good boys” from Nanakuli try to rob/kill you at gun point.
Gun safety should always come first, even should be mandatory to take safety and shooting skill tests to possess/own a gun. Far too many lax and unskilled firearm owners out there ruin it for the careful and safe gun owners.
Is that a promise? lol
Shooting a neighborhood kid dead because he stole a bike is a bit much.
umm, not that is something you made up. I never once stated I would shoot anyone stealing something. It’s not even legal to use deadly force to stop theft. Deadly force can only be used when your life is in danger, ie gun pointed at you. Read the laws so you can be an informed citizen than a sitting duck.
Informed?!? Why? Its just the same ole’ high drama for the cause routine as always.
Lol,,my good boys will try to rob me or shoot me? You know when terrorist have done their job when you fear FEAR ITSELF.
I said rob/kill you “at gun point” You do realize deadly force is legal the minute someone points a gun at you, right? There’s a chance they’ll pull the trigger even if only getting robbed at gun point. But don’t worry, Nanakuliboss, I’m sure the HPD will arrive 30 minutes after you’re shot to investigate. They’ll prob even close the case as suicide to not waste time looking for the perp.
Read my posting…proper training with a big emphasis on “safety”. Staying in the dark about firearms and safety training is unacceptable.
Guns just give a false sense of security but makes it easy to commit suicide.
If you’re so concerned about people committing suicide, why not ban buildings and cliffs? Heck, while you’re at it, require mandatory ventilation of enclosed garages on homes. So many ways to commit suicide other than using a gun. If someone really wants to commit suicide, they’re gonna do it.
As for a false sense of security, in what way? A well trained individual with a firearm can do a lot to defend themselves and their family members. Back in the days of “Little House On The Prairie”, EVERY member of the household knew where the guns were and how they worked. No way to call 911 when a bear was attacking! If people took the time and effort to train properly like they did back then, there would be a whole different attitude towards guns and gun ownership.
Ignorance, I’m just speechless. No point in even debating with you. Maybe you do have a point. Those that lack common sense or judgement like yourself should not be able to buy a gun therefore the rest of us are safer off from the mentally inept.
So Boots, ALL suicides are by gun? Show me the numbers please so I can be on your side. Drama and theatrics don’t cut it, facts and truths will sell your point with out question. Please I beg you to show me the numbers that all suicides are by gun. Waiting.
“We as an association are delighted to be on the bottom of the pile in this one,” Gerwig said. He said the rifle association was “all about” training people for the safe use of firearms, adding it puts significant funds and time into high school shooting programs.” I can attest that Mr. Gerwig’s statement as accurate. This is supported by experiences as a Boy Scout Adult Leader, Rifle Shooting Merit Badge Counselor, Certified Range Safety Officer and son’s participation in air riflery at his high school. However, we do need the support of the Community and Legislature to … “provide more public shooting ranges where recreational shooters may practice firing their weapons safely.”
Seems like you work with a lot of youth. With that said, do the gun community a favor and get the word “weapon” out of your vocabulary. A “weapon” by definition is a device that is designed to be used to harm people. This could be a knife, hammer, automobile, etc. Call them “firearms”. This will help a lot with public perception. Especially when working with our youth. Get them in the right mindset at a young age for a lifetime of safe and responsible firearms ownership.
Good point. Please review my comment again. The extract from quote from the original article refers to “weapon”. I prefer and continue to use handgun and/or side arm and long gun. By the way, the safe handling of firearms carries over to toy firearms and if the opportunity presents itself I address the handling of same appropriately.