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STAR-ADVERTISER / JUNE 19, 2010
A target shooter chambers a round in the semi-automatic handgun at the Kokohead shooting range.
Like the rest of the country, Hawaii residents aren’t allowed to drink and drive. But there’s no state law stopping them from using a gun while drunk.
Hawaii lawmakers considered a bill Friday to ban residents from operating or possessing firearms while using drugs or alcohol. National experts say Hawaii has some of the strictest gun laws in the country, but the Hawaii Attorney General’s Office says current laws don’t explicitly ban people from using guns while intoxicated.
“I think most people would absolutely agree that it’s common sense not to mix firearms and alcohol in any setting,” said Rep. Chris Lee, who introduced the bill.
The Hawaii bill comes in the midst of a national debate on gun control. Honolulu Police Department Maj. Richard Robinson says most U.S. states have enacted laws restricting the use of firearms while intoxicated.
As the current Hawaii law is written, gun owners could legally go hunting while drunk, said Robinson. The state doesn’t allow open carry, which means Hawaii residents without a concealed carry permit can only take firearms to selected locations such as shooting ranges, hunting grounds or gun shows.
Lee said he introduced the Hawaii bill to clear up whether it’s OK to use a firearm while intoxicated. The bill was introduced in response to recent gun deaths, he said.
One of those instances was when federal agent Christopher Deedy shot Hawaii resident Kollin Elderts in 2011. Prosecutors said Deedy was under the influence of alcohol and that a fellow agent had warned him about hostility from Hawaii locals toward government employees.
Deedy claimed he acted in self-defense and was trying protecting others. He was acquitted after his second trial.
“This would explicitly clear up any gray areas where this issue may still be a problem and could potentially lead people into dangerous situations,” said Lee.
But the Hawaii bill wasn’t without opposition. Dozens of Hawaii residents spoke out against the law, saying it was vague and could prevent legal gun owners from protecting themselves in emergency situations.
“I cannot be denied the right to protect my family from an intruder into my home because I have a few beers,” Jeff Ball said in opposition to the bill. “Would I need to hand the gun to my child and tell him or her to defend us?”
Harvey Gerwig, president of the Hawaii Rifle Association, said the bill could be problematic because drugs can’t be tested by law enforcement on the spot. He said it could also incriminate Hawaii residents who own guns and drink alcohol at home.
“We are absolutely not in favor of people having alcohol and firearms mixed together, but this bill is poorly written,” Gerwig said.
Hawaii had the lowest gun-death and ownership rates in the nation in 2014, according to the most recently available statistics from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Over 33,000 Americans were killed by gunfire that same year.
No need law
its common sense …It will only make work for lawyers and dumb down our children …Please it seems harmless but IT HARMS THE FUTURE ..ALOHA
You might damage the gun if you puke on the gun while drunk.
Forrest? Forrest Gump, is that you?
Kids don’t need Hawaii’s lawmakers to insult their intelligence. We already hired the smartphone to do that.
Drunk men still use their ten inch gun to make the yellow snow.
Next harassment law for Hawaii will make it illegal to use a gun while sleeping in bed.
Add to this no driving while asleep, neither. But, you already, knew that.
How about not using a knife when you are intoxicated.
Scissors
You’d cut your finger, so what? A standard 147 grain 9mm round will likely go through the wall of your home and kill the kid skateboarding outside.
You might spill your drink when the gun goes off. Oh, my. The puppies might get wet from that spill. That would constitute animal abuse, just for Hawaii. And on and on with the non sense our leaders can think of.
Chris Lee, find another job. With all the economic problems we have in Hawaii, you want to introduce useless bills. Explain to me how this would have cleared up the Deedy case. It hasn’t been established if he was drunk. Even if he was, and he gets charged for that, it still doesn’t answer the question of self defense or not.
H mistakes making dumb laws with being a smart lawmaker.
All responsible gun owners will never use guns when drunk. This legislation must have been introduced to arrest the alcohol and marijuana users, who are not responsible.
I think the people of Hawaii need to seriously look at who we are electing and get these clowns who are introducing these types of ridiculous bills out of office!
What’s next…a ban on using guns to commit murder!?
No guns for suicide. Or you’ll be arrested
The only dunks busted with guns lately are HPD themselves.What was the dunk HPD doing in the hostess bar when his gun exploded prematurely.
Lol…………exactly!
Perfect example. That officer clearly should not have been armed.
True dat. Responsible gun owners will not use their weapons while drunk. The irresponsible drunken gun owners won’t be deterred by a statute on the books.
What? No more shooting while drunk? Can still drive with my feet, right? Roller skate on the freeway? Jet ski on the Ala Wai?! They are taking away my right to be stupid.
Make additional law. No fight drunks wit guns. Dere. Now bot will pass.
Chris Lee, Define “using a gun”, then look at all the laws already in place associated with the firearm itself. Why not just make it illegal to be drunk…period?(ok ok just using this as an example) Would save a lot of lives no doubt. You gotta be kiddin. Wake up!
Doofus law makers will never get it right. Does this clown know the difference between a barrel and a butt?
Presumably this would apply to off duty cops showing off at the bar.
This certainly sounds like a good idea but one must always question the gun grabbers and their real intentions.
This state’s lawmakers are making an issue where there is none. If you need to use your gun in your own home to defend yourself, you BETTER NOT HAVE A DRINK. This is such idiocy. Guess they also exempt LEO, which is the real problem with alcohol and guns! This place is so CRIMINAL FREINDLY it is disgusting. Law abiding citizens can’t get a break!
Can we also ban the legislature from passing bills when they are drunk with power
Seeing as the Police Chiefs won’t approve any concealed carry permits for anyone without a law enforcement background and our ridiculous law makers are trying to take away our 2nd Amendment rights and it is almost impossible to purchase and register a weapon, this bill is targeted at law enforcement personnel. Put away all or your off duty weapons. Very few law abiding citizens pull out weapons when they are drinking. This ia another useless bill by clueless people that need to be voted out of office. The last public incident involving a weapon and drinking was an off duty HPD officer at a bar.
They make it hard for their own retired officers to get their LEOSA credentials. Very scummy.
Oh, pass the bill… it won’t do any good, but it will make the liberals “FEEL GOOD”. That’s all this bill is, a ‘feel good bill”.
Our legislators must have too much time on their hands to even consider this
As Forrest said, “Stupid IS as stupid DOES”!
At some point in time we have to stop making laws to protect the stupid reckless people. If anything, just confiscate any weapon on one’s possession when intoxicated in public!
Really?
Unbelievable. Rep. Lee’s office should be flooded with calls and e-mails against such a bill.
Who writes these headlines? “Hawaii lawmakers want to ban residents from using guns drunk”. How drunk were the lawmakers? Then the article mentions Agent Deedy’s trial…he wasn’t a resident.
The law would not have made a difference in the Deedy case since he refused to be tested for alcohol. So using his case as an example makes no sense.
Just make a clean sweep: all public and private intoxication should be illegal, period. After that, just enforce it and further clog the courts.
Best argument yet.
They shouldn’t limit this law just to residents! *hint* Christopher Deedy *hint*
Yeah, we have some of the strictest gun laws in the country. Just see how that’s working out for us. It’s so successful, let’s outlaw heroin, crack, ice, pakalolo. That should do it.
How about making a law prohibiting common sense challenged lawmakers from introducing bills. How in the world will a law against using a firearm while intoxicated reduce gun deaths?
We have a process for prohibiting common sense challenged lawmakers from introducing bills – elections. However, given low voter turnout and the indifference of the typical Chris Lee constituent, don’t hold your breath.