Lots of gun laws, little gun violence

Hawaii has among the most gun laws in the nation and the lowest number of gun deaths per capita — 3 per 100,000 — but a study’s author warns against drawing any conclusions.

"Until we revitalize firearms research, studies using available data will often be the best we have," wrote gun violence expert Dr. Garen Wintemute. "They are not good enough."

Wintemute’s study, published in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine, did find that states with the most restrictive guns laws had significantly lower violent gun deaths, especially suicides. However, Wintemute, an emergency physician, said it made no sense to link gun laws to reduced suicides.

Back to the research board.

It’s risky to take rocks from heiau

Roland Sagum III, the former lawmaker accused of lifting rocks from a site on Kauai, may have more to worry about than what the Circuit Court says about it.

Cryptically, Sagum’s attorney will only say that it was all a misunderstanding, but would not elaborate, citing ethics considerations.

Whatever. A lot of Kauai folks would say the main point is that the rocks, allegedly taken from a heiau in a 15-acre archaeological site, were from an ancient place of worship, a spot Hawaiians consider sacred.

If Sagum is found guilty, the second-degree theft charge carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

But some might consider penalties from a higher power more worrisome. Without endorsing or disputing that notion, we’ll just say: Good luck, Mr. Sagum.